March 30, 2004

• From 3/31/2004 Opera City

  Last weekend was the performance of the last part of the "Tokyo Ring" series, so we went to Opera City in Hatsudai (one stop outside of Shinjuku) to see Wagner's "Gotterdaemmerung" or "The Twilight of the Gods." 

  

  The first picture is an entrance hall in the theater complex. 

   

  Turn right upon entering and you can see an outdoor amphitheater in which is installed a moving sculpture (the jaw has a small motor) called "Singing Man."  

  

  As you can see, the sculpture is not the only source of music .  Please take note of the pink cloth on the ground.  It is covering an important piece of the act. 

  

  This musician was equally adept at Japanese flute!  He had a percussion section as well (wind-up toy monkey with cymbals) hidden under the pink cloth to assist him as he stomped in time to his own music.

  

  

  The opera Gotterdaemmerung began at 2:00 and ended at 8:00, so we decided that it would be in out best interest to eat before the show started.  Here are some shots from inside the place where we had lunch.  Not a real lively joint, but the atmosphere was cozy.

  

   

  We are now in the lobby of the theatre and are going to out seats on the third floor side balcony.  The seats are cheaper there, but you can really see the stage quite well if you can get a seat dangling on the outside. 

   

  

  Below please find shots of the inside of the theatre, the stage and the orchestra pit.  The conductor is Jun Merkel, if anyone is interested.  As you can see, they are saving money on scenery. 

   

  If I may make an editorial comment about the "Tokyo Ring," I would appreciate it if die Goetter could drop a bit of Daemmerung on the stage and costuming person.  At least this time Siegfried did not look like an overstuffed Kindergartener forging his sword Notung in the microwave, but those poor Rhinemaidens...  I look better in my bathing suit than they did in theirs, which is pretty awful, but they looked worse.  And those poor Norns all looked like Doc from "Back to the Future" in bad Rune suits.  I did have to laugh at the performance of "Siegfried" last year.  When Siegfried stabbed Mime in a hotel, the "No Vacancy" sign went out.  Funny, but perhaps this was not exactly Herr Wagner's idea of Walhalla. If you just close you eyes and listen, it is all quite good.

  Here are some parting shots of the orchestra pit during intermission. 

   

  The french horn guy is practicing Siegfried's leitmotif, or musical theme.  Too bad Siegfried is about to get stabbed in the back and meet a horrible end.

   

  Also see a row of cellos and the trumpet section. 

  I guess these guys must get thirsty, as one of them has left his bottle of tea. 

  

  • 22:45
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