A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Opera

After a lovely day exploring Bregenze and around Lake Constance on foot, and following a fabulous backstage tour, we finally settled down in our 'cheap seats' high-up in the gods to watch the al fresco performance of André Chénier (here on Youtube). I am informed this is a verismo opera in four acts by the composer Umberto Giordano, first performed in 1896.

The opera is set in revolutionary France but sung in Italian to a libretto (and with projected translations provided in German). As such, we didn't really have the foggiest idea what was going on, other than being told the story was based loosely on the life of the French poet, André Chénier (1762-1794), and who was executed during the French Revolution.

The floating stage set by David Fielding and with artistic direction by David Pountney though was enough to keep me and MrsB captivated for the whole 2 hour performance. This was my first-ever opera, but the staging and lighting was the finest dramatic spectacle I think I have ever seen. Quite simply brilliant.

Funny story about 'on the way to the opera' was that we stood aside during our walk into Bregenz to allow a very large black man to power walk pass us. He said "Danke" in such a deep baritone and seemed on such a determined mission, that I said to MrsB that I bet he would be in the cast. He was, and in fact had the second biggest part, as Carlo Gérard, the servant! (Postscript: Since identified as U.S Baritone Lester Lynch).

This is a little snapshot mosaic of the performance. Sadly, videoing was Verboden, so no YouTube available from during the performance.