OPERA CLUB
A Deep Dive into Rigoletto Opera Club members share their impressions
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Becky T . I so enjoy sitting in Elizabeth ’ s living room concentrating seriously on her remarkable discussions about opera . Rigoletto was no exception . I learned so much that I feel I have already seen the opera on stage , which is quite possible , considering that I ’ ve been attending operas in Hamburg for over 50 years , beginning with Carmen , my very first opera . Sadly , I missed seeing Rigoletto with the opera group , both in Holi Cinema and in the Staatsoper , but I will certainly catch up . In the meantime , I will continue humming , “ La donna è mobile , qual piume al vento ” ( A woman is fickle like a feather in the wind ).
Carol H . I , for one , will never see Rigoletto with the same ears or eyes again . Elizabeth ’ s wonderful introduction attuned us to the fantastic quartet in the final act — with the conflicting and intertwined emotions of the four characters coming together so beautifully . And Rigolettos ’ s “ La ra la la ” in the second act still resonates in my head . But the most emotional aspect was the tragic figure of Gilda , whose portrayal was so different in the three interpretations we watched , clearly reflecting cultural norms . A heart-wrenching # MeToo aspect
Opera Club members met at the home of Elizabth R . ( center in maroon shirt ) to learn about Rigoletto before seeing a live performance . ( Photo by Jonas R .)
was not to be overlooked . Not surprisingly , Rigoletto has been set in many different settings , including , more recently , in Silvio Berlusconi ’ s world .
Mary W . As a long-time participant in the opera group lead by Elizabeth R ., I have been extremely lucky to learn all about opera from the creative classes of a true naturalborn teacher . I studied business , then law , with no time for any of the arts in my curriculum . Although I made up for literature by asking well-educated friends for reading lists and then reading on my own , music and the finer arts were a bit more challenging .
I had seen only one opera , Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss , at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and was dazzled but a bit confused by all the stage changes and singing I could not understand . I joined the opera group after my friend Anja told me how wonderful the classes were and how much she enjoyed them . There I learned , to my embarrassment , that Die Fledermaus was not actually an opera . Although I still prefer musicals over operas , what I appreciate the most are the classes that Elizabeth diligently prepares and enthusiastically teaches . Elizabeth is like a weaver . She sits at her loom of electronics ( with
30 The Clubs within Our Club