Today: Best Opera to see with a Lover
Historically, I have not had much success taking men to the opera. Most men stop at the "I like opera" statement and stare at me, fascinated, like I'm some sort of exotic creature that is lovely until provoked, when it will suddenly turn and rip you to shreds. The one guy I did manage to bring to the opera (which was Don Giovanni) spent the entire time trying to snuggle me. I do not want to be snuggled during Don Giovanni. Obviously, that did not work out. And the one guy I DID successfully go to the opera with was most definitely NOT my date: he was actually dating a mutual friend, who was out of town but gave her approval to the "Hey, Christie has free tickets to see Cinderella, can I go?" statement.
So, all this is to say, I haven't the foggiest idea which opera to see with a lover. I'm going to go with the lame and boring "Any Opera". Although I'm sure it would be a comedy. I just can't bring myself to take a date to a tragic opera-unless, of course, we had been together for a long enough time that seeing something like La Boheme or Tosca wouldn't be a bad idea. Although I wouldn't take a date to see Tosca. Somehow I don't think that would be a bright idea.
For the purposes of this post, though, I'll say this:
1. for a first-timer date to the opera, I'd pick something light, like Le Nozze di Figaro or La Cenerentola.
2. for a well-established and opera-filled relationship, I'd pick something a little heavier. Iphigenie en Tauride, perhaps.
And there you go.
2 comments:
Opera-loving females: dangerous creatures, we are. ;) On the plus side, it can be a useful filter. I went to the opera several times with a self-described "symphony guy," but his interval comments never really progressed beyond "It was good!" or "I liked it!" The decision to drop him proved wise. (Also, snuggling during Don Giovanni would be totally upsetting! I'm so sorry!! Hope that worked out fairly painlessly.)
The first time I went to Tristan, it was with several friends, but the co-mastermind of the outing was the object of my passionate infatuation. It was exquisitely awkward. Or awkwardly exquisite. Take your pick.
@Lucy: That was my first break up. I didn't site the Don Giovanni snuggling, but sitting there uncomfortably for two hours was one of the factors. Poor guy. He's married now, though, so he's fine.
Your Tristan experience DOES sound awkward. Isolde's Liebestod must have been fun to sit through. :/
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