I have never been a huge fan of opera. I love music. I’m obsessed with music. The list of musical styles and genres I don’t like is so much shorter than what I do like but I have never liked opera and had no interest in going to an opera. High pitched tra-la-la and all that, but the other month I saw a billboard for Ainadamar and thought “I kind of want to see that” then went on with life.
A week ago a friend who IS an opera fan singer, asked if I wanted to go to an opera with her and wouldn’t you know, it was Ainadamar. My night was free so I said yes and we set out on an evening train to Philly, KID-FREE!! I didn’t do much research but as I already said, I am not an opera fan, and what I didn’t say yet, I am not a fan of tragedies. Ainadamar, Fountain of Tears, is a tragedy. I do love history though, and as the plot unfolded I reflected on my history lessons through the years, realizing we didn’t learn so much about the Spanish Civil War.
The orchestra, backdrops, and performers worked together to bring a story that pulled me in, each playing off the other and complimenting each other. The music was full of emotion.The new digital backdrops allow the set designer to create unbelievable magic. The performers/singers were able to put themselves so into the story you forgot it wasn’t 1936 and the story was an reenactment.
Since I have never really paid much attention to opera I thought they were all in Italian or Latin, or something like that. Ainadamar is in Spanish, makes sense right? Too bad I don’t know Spanish either but I loved the Spanish flair and flamenco dances that were included in the program. There was a lot of Christian symbolism in the program, which surprised me but it was interesting to see it played out in a different way on a public stage.
Ainadamar (Fountain of Tears) is a Spanish opera with subtitles, that runs 80 minutes. It is perfect for a seasoned opera goer or a first timer. They are playing 2/12/14, 2/14/14, and 2/16/14 at The Academy of Music. I highly recommend you go see it while it is playing in Philadelphia. You can get tickets here.
As a part of @OperaPhila’s innovative first live tweet up, here are my tweets from the evening….
@OperaPhila Cannot wait for tonight’s opera. #LorcaOpera #fountainoftears
— Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 7, 2014
@operaphila First opera for this girl. #fountainoftears http://t.co/OzoNXUdX3r
— Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 8, 2014
The audience starts to quiet…@OperaPhila #LorcaOpera
— Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 8, 2014
Breathtaking, spellbinding, pulls you into the story. @bakakai @AlfredoTejada79 @ddevan @OperaPhila #LorcaOpera #fountainoftears
— Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 8, 2014
I see a history lesson in our near future. #LorcaOpera inspiration! Age appropriate if course. @OperaPhila. #homeschooler
— Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 8, 2014
With every revolution there is great sacrifice. Brilliantly and poignantly portrayed from music to backdrops. #LorcaOpera @OperaPhila — Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 8, 2014
….even the stones have wept. #LorcaOpera @OperaPhila
— Heather McCurdy (@HeatherLMcCurdy) February 8, 2014