Dear all,
The last week in September was pretty relaxed! This week, however, I have two midterms and a paper due before our October vacation begins on Friday! I anticipate that I'll be spending quite a bit of time sitting behind my desk this week, studying. :/ It's okay, though! I remind myself that I'm here to be a student!
On Tuesday this past week, I saw another opera at La Fenice ("the Phoneix"). This time we watched a modern production of Verdi's La Traviata! I thought that the main singers/actors did a really good job- especially the lead soprano! She sang beautifully and accurately and committed to each of her acting gestures with a believable sharpness.
The set was much different from the one in Tosca. This show had glowing lights, green dollar bills ALL over the place, a TV, and people dressed in more modern attire because it was set in a more recent time period. That aspect of the performance was cool; however, if this production were a movie, it'd have to be rated PG-13 and in some scenes rated R given the stage directors interpretation of this 19th century plot.
Here are a couple of photos from the opera!:
The last week in September was pretty relaxed! This week, however, I have two midterms and a paper due before our October vacation begins on Friday! I anticipate that I'll be spending quite a bit of time sitting behind my desk this week, studying. :/ It's okay, though! I remind myself that I'm here to be a student!
On Tuesday this past week, I saw another opera at La Fenice ("the Phoneix"). This time we watched a modern production of Verdi's La Traviata! I thought that the main singers/actors did a really good job- especially the lead soprano! She sang beautifully and accurately and committed to each of her acting gestures with a believable sharpness.
The set was much different from the one in Tosca. This show had glowing lights, green dollar bills ALL over the place, a TV, and people dressed in more modern attire because it was set in a more recent time period. That aspect of the performance was cool; however, if this production were a movie, it'd have to be rated PG-13 and in some scenes rated R given the stage directors interpretation of this 19th century plot.
Here are a couple of photos from the opera!:
We had good seats again!
The paper, I mentioned above is for my Art History class. The topic is on two paintings in the Church of St. John Chrysostom near Rialto. We had to view the pieces first in order to analyze them and take notes for the paper. On the way to the church, my friend and I stopped at a cafe that sells these thick crust pizzas. The cafe was called Antico Forno, and we had been wanting to check it out! Oh my, just looking at this photo makes me hungry! haha. The man who took my order confirmed with me before he put the pizza from the display into the oven. He said it was "un po' piccante" (a bit spicy). I found the spice to be just right :-). Just look at how thick that crust is! Mm, mm, good!
On Friday, I went to a free concert at La Chiesa dei Frari, colloquially called Frari. This historic church is about a 3 minute walk from my apartment. The art there has SO much more meaning to me now that we had class there and discussed the pieces. The first time I went to Frari for a concert I just viewed the high altarpiece as a captivating painting. Now I know the innovativeness of the painter, Titian, and the effect that this piece had on the way artists painted thereafter.
The concert was an oratorio called La Morte di S. Antonio di Padova (The Death of Saint Anthony of Padova). An oratorio is kind of like an opera but on a religious topic and without staging. It was cool to see this production because I've had some interaction with St. Anthony before. I visited the Basilica in Padova where he's buried, and part of his jawbone and tongue are on display there.
The concert was an oratorio called La Morte di S. Antonio di Padova (The Death of Saint Anthony of Padova). An oratorio is kind of like an opera but on a religious topic and without staging. It was cool to see this production because I've had some interaction with St. Anthony before. I visited the Basilica in Padova where he's buried, and part of his jawbone and tongue are on display there.
After this week when things slow down again, I plan to have a really cool post for you sharing photos from our week of traveling! We're planning to visit three places in Germany: Munich, Berlin, and a smaller town called Rothenburg. Afterwards we're going to head over to Amsterdam in the Netherlands then Brussels, Belgium where we'll have some good Belgium waffles and chocolate! That being said, I'll most likely update you all on Monday, October 19 at 2PM EST!
I hope you all have a great week, and if you could say a prayer for me for midterms, I'd appreciate it! haha
J McKoy
I hope you all have a great week, and if you could say a prayer for me for midterms, I'd appreciate it! haha
J McKoy