T’was the night before a chilly Sunday in January when I received a Facebook message from Aunt Countess alerting me to a concert at a nearby church. Why was it so special ? Dimitri Pittas, tenor, was performing a recital and the name seemed all too familiar. Scraping the midsection of my mind, I quickly recalled the name from when I had seen Otello in 2015. Dimitri Pittas sang Cassio in the performance. “Getting the chance to see a real life opera singer in person…?” Oh, yes, I HAD to go !
Željko Lučić as Iago and Dimitri Pittas as Cassio in Otello / Metropolitan Opera
For a knockout deal of $10, I stepped into the church to find Dimitri and his accompanist (and heavily pregnant) wife, Leah, chatting with audience members as they meandered into the sanctuary. The program consisted of classical favorites translated into English as well as some sports-themed selections, which carried more mirth and appropriateness than expected: NFL playoff games were occurring simultaneously and once during a break between songs, Dimitri hollered for an updated score of the Green Bay/Atlanta game.
Wrapping up the concert with “Una furtiva lagrima” from L’Elisir d’Amore and “Maria” from West Side Story, a reception of prepared foods and punch followed. And it was here that I had my moment to jest: as a die-hard New York Yankees fan, Dimitri glowered in frustration as I broke the news of my devotion to the Boston Red Sox. So prickled was he that in between chats about growing a beard for the role of Cassio and Thanksgiving dinner with Željko Lučić, he stopped to abruptly turn and greet Jennifer as she waited her turn to speak. I folded in half with laughter.
Dimitri was a good sport, all in all, and even allowed me to take a picture with him. Too bad that the one and only photo I have of meeting a real life opera singer is of inferior quality. Oh, well… It will have to suffice.
A last minute plan turned out to be a thrilling afternoon. I bubbled with pride and giddiness as I regaled my friends with the details of the concert. And best of all… I MET AN OPERA SINGER !!!!
Toi, Toi, Toi,
Mary Martha
Cast and Credits
Dimitri Pittas in Concert First Presbyterian Church Lakeland, FL Date: January 22, 2017
It was an easy decision. After my spellbinding first opera experience with Il Trovatore, I couldn’t wait to shell out another $24 at the ticket booth for a following Verdi tragedy 2 weeks later, Otello. Intriguingly, it was Otello that jumped out at me the most when viewing the Live in HD schedule in the summer of 2015: the drama based on Shakespeare’s play could have easily been my first opera. Thankfully, it wasn’t.
Aleksandrs Antonenko in a promotional photo for Verdi’s Otello / Metropolitan Opera
Bartlett Sher’s production, with frosted Lucite walls that were supposed to be a spoof from a quote by Verdi’s librettist about enclosing Otello in a glass house, mimicked frozen blocks of ice rather than the intended domicile of transparency. They were cold, lifeless, and ineffective from my point of view.
Željko Lučić as Iago in Otello / Metropolitan Opera
The cast was decent with a liquid Željko Lučić and a piercingly chill Sonya Yoncheva (fitting for the icy production), but I felt Otello suffered from an identity crisis: with his clothing and styling (not to mention his lack of blackface) just as drab as all the secondary characters and chorus, there was nothing to distinguish him among the throngs of people on stage. Shouldn’t he have looked more… Moorish ?
Dmitri Pittas (far right) as Cassio and Aleksandrs Antonenko (center) as Otello / Metropolitan Opera
While Desdemona’s final “Muoio innocente” was moving, I was left underwhelmed by the overall performance. Still, my exuberant, newfound interest in opera was undeterred by this small nick in the grand scheme of things.
Sonya Yoncheva as Desdemona in Otello / Metropolitan Opera
Dressing up for my first opera was almost as much fun as seeing the performance itself. There’s something vicarious and invigorating about feeling fancy as if you, yourself, are a part of the opera by the clothes you choose to wear. To my second opera, however, I wanted to “theme” my outfit for the sunny Venetian locale of Otello and Desdemona’s spotless disposition. “Something golden, something demure…” I mused.
Othello Relating His Adventures to Desdemona
The scarves and skirts of my closet were paraded in breezy seaside style as I toyed with layering and softly blending color schemes. I used my standby gold tank top, which I wore to Il Trovatore, and slipped on a long white linen skirt. Then the fun began. A metallic gold thread woven through the pinky-peach and cream striped scarf gave glints of gentility and coastal charm. When I tied its fringed ends together into a loose side knot, the effect was just right… at least for an outfit made from scarves and skirts !
A pair of lace gloves (thank you, Aunt Countess !), antique gold rings (such a faux pas when worn with gloves ─ fie, me !), and just the right assortment of necklaces and earrings helped me feel right at home as Desdemona. Do I look as if I’m about to be strangled ?
I styled my hair in a “twisted sections pinned up and back” sort of style. Nothing fancy, but very elegant when clipped together with a gold flower hair accessory.
An outfit for free, a better-than-front-row-seat ticket for $24… Enjoying the thrills of opera and the emulation of one of Shakespeare’s most virtuous heroines doesn’t have to be a ship-sinking occasion. If only the production of Otello had fared better…
Toi, Toi, Toi,
Mary Martha
Cast and Credits:
Otello ─ Giuseppe Verdi (1887) Live in HD air date: October 17, 2015
Cast: Otello ─ Aleksandrs Antonenko Desdemona ─ Sonya Yoncheva Iago ─ Željko Lučić Emilia ─ Jennifer Johnson Cano Cassio ─ Dmitri Pittas Roderigo ─ Chad Shelton Lodovico ─ Günther Groissböck Montano ─ Jeff Mattsey A herald ─ Tyler Duncan
Credits: Conductor ─ Yannick Nézet-Séguin Production ─ Bartlett Sher Set Designer ─ Es Devlin Costume Designer ─ Catherine Zuber Lighting Designer ─ Donald Holder Projection Designer ─ Luke Halls Live in HD Director ─ Gary Halvorson Host ─ Eric Owens
“The dynamic husband-and-wife duo of tenor Roberto Alagna and soprano Aleksandra Kurzak give a concert of arias and duets, accompanied by string quintet, from an outdoor terrace in Èze, France, with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean.”
Two for the price of one ? A string quintet ? A château on the French Riviera ? Count me in ! If the description for the third installment of the Met Stars Live in Concert initiative wasn’t appealing already, the set list for Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna’s concert was the icing on the cake. Favorites from Puccini and Verdi seamlessly mixed with adorable folk songs from Mexico and Italy, all richly accompanied by the Vienna Morphing Quintet. Below is an abbreviated video of highlights from the concert:
Aside from being a technical feat, the vistas overlooking the pelagic Mediterranean Sea were arresting. Several times during the concert, I found my eyes floating over the floral garlanded railing to espy sleek motor yachts and nearby barrier islands as Aleksandra and Roberto charmed me with their singing and effortless chemistry. Their intuitive camaraderie led to dynamic and touching duets, which also included an overflowing dose of mirth. In what is rapidly becoming the duo’s calling card, the hilarious “love potion” duet from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore involved a clever prop and crafty English ad libs ─ I was rollicking with laughter watching the two perform !
Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna singing “Caro Elisir” from L’Elisir d’Amore in concert / Metropolitan Opera
There were more serious moments as well with Aleksandra singing Desdemona’s “Ave Maria” followed by a melting rendition of the love duet from Otello, in which the darkening sky serendipitously played a role in one of the final lines. Singing “The Pleiades are low in the heavens”, the pair turned to face the azure sky and motioned to the stars just as they were beginning to illuminate. Chills !!!!
Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna singing the love duet from Otello in concert
The Cuisine
The concert locale, above all else, provided the best (and most straightforward) watch party theme: Rolling on the Riviera. Provence, with its uniqueness of sights and senses was the central inspiration behind our small gathering at Chris’s home. Each of us chipped in to make the get-together unforgettable. Jayne knew of a terrific French sparkling rosé wine while I was elated to try out Ina Garten’s Provençal Potato Salad, which was chocked full of Provençal ingredients: black olives, capers, haricot verts, cherry tomatoes, scallions, red onion, lots of fresh herbs, flaked tuna, hard cooked eggs, and anchovies. The freshness was equivalent to lounging on a sun-soaked beach chair with the sea mist brushing across your face. In the words of Ina Garten, “How bad can that be ?” The salad is so gorgeous that it was featured as the cover image on the original Barefoot Contessa cookbook from 1999.
The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and Jayne’s sparkling rosé
I highly recommend the wine and the niçoise-inspired potato salad for an instant summer getaway.
Anne sure knows how to arrange a cheese platter ! Roquefort, Boursin, and Brie, oh my ! And of course, my favorite prosciutto…
Even Chris, our gracious hostess, made blackberry sorbet to be accompanied with chocolate covered French cookies. Bon appétit !
The Clothes
Imagine partaking in a leisurely promenade along one of the coastal towns of the Riviera… what would you wear ? For me, the answer was obvious: beach pajamas !
Made popular in the 1930’s, beach pajamas (or pyjamas) were all the rage on the Riviera where the rich and famous would rendezvous. Women would wear flowy fabrics with grace, oftentimes to dressier occasions spanning into the evening hour. Casual and comfortable, while still oh-so chic, I knew I wanted to sew a set of these beloved beach clothes.
Seeking a two piece style, I contemplated designing my own set until I came across a FREE pattern online from Gertie’s Charm Patterns brand. With a complete sew-a-long tutorial on YouTube showing the details of making the pajamas, the pattern was just right for my needs. With this being my very first “Gertie” pattern, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but found that the pattern was accurately sized with differing cup sizes for an even better fit.
Using a soft rayon challis I bought in June from Julie’s Picks swatch club mailer, I paired it with an equally sumptuous berry-colored material from Fabric Mart’s gorgeous selection of rayon/nylon shimmer satins. Softness and style united as one.
I loved wearing my 1930’s beach pajamas to what transpired as a joyous afternoon in Provence. From the cliffs of Èze to the rolling hills of central Florida, the pleasures of the French Riviera were abundant ─ an uplifting concert, delicious food, and lively conversation… what could be finer ?
Toi, Toi, Toi,
Mary Martha
Cast and Credits:
Met Stars Live in Concert: Aleksandra Kurzak and Roberto Alagna Château de la Chèvre d’Or Èze, France Live broadcast date: August 16, 2020 (Date seen: August 20, 2020)
Aleksandra Kurzak ─ soprano Roberto Alagna ─ tenor
Costume Closet Couture 