Confession; I'm a Fan-girl :)

Last weekend I went to Greensboro Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, I absolutely loved it, I thought it was stunning. However, this is not a review, because let’s face it, I’m not qualified for that. Back on track; a lot of times my favorite part of going to the opera is what happens after the curtain falls. I love going on adventures after show to the stage door. Standing with butterflies flying around in my stomach, waves of excitement crashing every time the door opens. It’s quite the experience for me. So of course I went on one of these adventures last Friday after Carmen, but before I share that experience I need to share my Tosca adventure.

Dinyar Vania (Cavaradossi)

Sitting in the gym on the second floor of the yellow brick building watching the entire story unfold maybe 20 feet away from me was INCREDIBLE! I cannot tell you how moved, and how enthralled I was. During the first rehearsal I wasn't quite brave enough to march my little self over to the leads and introduce myself. But at the second rehearsal I sat in on, I had no choice. The principles were absolutely fantastic, and I had to tell them how much their performances had inspired me. So I got up the courage to speak to the tenor and baritone first; Dinyar Vania and Jake Gardner. They are each incredible performers and so wonderfully kind. It wasn’t until the very end of the rehearsal when I had finally built up the courage to speak with Jill Gardner, the soprano singing Tosca. She had captivated me from the very instant I saw her and she just sat and talked with me for like ten minuets. I asked for pictures which each of them and I have to say they are definitely making it on my picture ribbon for my dorm room next year.

Dinyar Vania (Don Jose)

Jake Gardner (Scarpia)

This past October, and the very beginning of November, Piedmont Opera did a production of Puccini’s Tosca.. Tosca is my absolute favorite Opera and my dream role. As soon as I found out this was happening I freaked out, and so when it finally came around I was ecstatic. Piedmont Opera is really cool because of the relationship between the company and my school, so a bunch of my friends were in the chorus and rehearsals are actually held on campus. I asked the director if I could sit in on a couple rehearsals, and he said that the rehearsals were open and that I was more than welcome to watch. I got a schedule from one of my chorister friends and ended up going to two rehearsals, both were full run throughs.

Jill Gardner (Tosca)

So sometime after this, and after I had seen the final dress rehearsal I realized that in my effort to try and keep my freakout internal I forgot to ask the tenor a question. Since I first saw Tosca I have always wondered about the end. (SPOILER!!!!!) Does Cavaradossi know that he is going to die after Tosca tells him the plan? So I did what normal people do, I wrote a note and gave it to my friend to give to Dinyar. My friend played a solider who dragged Cavaradossi across the stage.
Within the next day or so, I got a Facebook message from him, answering my question. It was a great answer by the way. He said that it isn't universally agreed upon. He then told me that through his research and experience he has decided that yes, Cavaradossi knows he will die.
    Okay, so returning to Carmen; it just so happened that Dinyar was singing the role of Don Jose, and I know a girl who sang in the chorus. So obviously I had to go, but alas I had rehearsal for the opera at school, so I couldn’t go to either performance because. Then the most amazing thing happened: IT SNOWED!!!! magically, I was able to go to the Friday night performance because my rehearsals got moved around. You guys do not understand how happy that made me, mainly because I’m trying to present myself as a sane human being here. Anyway I was thrilled and the performance was great.