went to the opera house to watch "lucia di lammermoor" and loved every single second of it =]

whee shall give the synopsis from "http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/LuciadiLammermoor.aspx"

Donizetti’s impassioned heroine must be one of the ultimate
coloratura roles of the bel canto repertoire and the artist who takes
it on is stepping into big shoes.

Presenting Emma Matthews in her role debut as Lucia di Lammermoor.
Get ready to be moved by her heartfelt portrayal and thrilled by her
pure, agile voice as it soars through the vocal pyrotechnics of this
virtuosic role.

Donizetti's gothic tale of Highland skulduggery is the very stuff of
opera. A Scottish nobleman plots to marry off his sister Lucia to a man
of influence. Lucia, on the other hand, longs to marry Edgardo, the
exiled Laird of Ravenswood. Contracts are signed and vows are exchanged
but the wedding does not go according to plan.

Donizetti created his most memorable and demanding score in Lucia.
The Act II sextet is a masterpiece of ensemble writing and Lucia’s mad
scene, ‘Il dolce suono’, is an exhilarating vocal tour de force. To
recreate John Copley’s gloriously atmospheric production Opera
Australia has brought together an outstanding cast: joining the radiant
Emma Matthews is American tenor Eric Cutler as Edgardo, José Carbó as
the evil Enrico, Richard Anderson as Raimondo and who else but Maestro
Richard Bonynge to conduct.

Performed in Italian with surtitles: Surtitles are a
translation of the text of the opera projected on a screen above the
stage. Note that Surtitles cannot be viewed from all seats. If you
require a surtitle view please check your allocation against the
information on the seat map prior to accepting your booking.

Emma Matthews was absolutely astounding. I mean, to be able to sing at that volume, at that pitch, and do all those trills and whatever runs up and down and up and down and not breathe. it's just "wow".
seriously, i mean, ok, some ppl may be able to squeak out, say, a high high C. but then to sing a high high A and not make it sound like a squeak AND everyone in the theatre can hear it extraordinarily clearly. haha, i think i've made my point. =]

the costumes, lightings, set, EVERYTHING was just great =] it was so surreal!!! and need i mention the orchestra? the flute and the harp!!!! it was great great great

i think my favourite part had to be the sextet (and come to think of it, the mad scene was very compelling as well)
in the sextet, the 6 main characters were all singing at the same time, and it was absolute chaos. (the surtitles were so confusing, so i didn't understand a single thing xD) yet their interweaving voices formed the most beautiful harmonies and the resulting sound was just absolutely astounding =] i wish the opera house had better acoustics T_T

i visited stephenie meyer's official website today, and although i was saddened by what happened, i can't help rejoicing. OMIGOSH DRAFT VERSION OF MIDNIGHT SUN I AM SO READING IT!
(abandoning the host bleah)

er yah, i wish i could blog more about the opera, but so incoherent and tired. feel like going to sleep and never ever having to wake up again T_T

Reading List 2011