Attending the Opera

I attended my first opera last Saturday evening in downtown Phoenix. I don't believe attending an opera was ever on my Bucket List or even on a Some Day I Would Like To... List. But because of an email from a friend I found myself seriously considering going to the opera. The location was right. The timing was right. I bought the tickets and figured everything else would fall into place...and it did. Notice, I did say tickets but never did I expect Hubby to be my escort.

What I knew about opera is this: 1) it is sung in a foreign language, 2) there is very little 'on stage' conversation during the performance, 3) and you wear NICE clothes when attending. So when it came to expectations, I had only three; two of the three were nullified after Saturday night.

What this little bio does not say is Laura Wilde is from Watertown SD. She completed her K-12 education in 'our' district as did her two older siblings. She is the reason I purchased two tickets and planned to attend an opera on Saturday night in downtown Phoenix.

I have 3 dressy dresses I keep in AZ; one in purple for Red Hat events, one in red just because, and the other in black for New Year's Eve events. I have worn the purple one a couple of times, the red one never since I brought it down, and the black one twice - once for our son's wedding and once in AZ on New Year's Eve. I wore it to the opera. 

Friends Bill & Donna are visiting AZ and staying at CV for a short time. Donna was pleased as punch to be my escort to the opera. She brought her opera attire along to AZ...so neither of us had to go shopping.

Nullify #3. I was one of the most over-dressed women in attendance. Some women were displaying far more sparkle than my Mesa Swap Meet pendant, and the dress code ranged from blue jeans, western shirts and hats to casual khaki slacks and short dresses. I'm still glad I wore my long black dress.

The opera was "Riders of the Purple Sage" based on the Zane Grey novel of the same name, written in 1912. Last week, it made its world debut on the stage of the Arizona Opera, during a 2 night, 1 afternoon performance. Some of Zane Grey's descendants were in the audience and were recognized.

Nullify #1. This opera, as are all American operas (and there are a few), are sung in English. However, sometimes it is hard to clearly hear/understand what is being sung, so the words are shown in the small screen above the stage. Prior to the performance it said, "Special thanks to the Arizona Community Foundation."

my opera selfie

orchestra pit

backdrop to simulate riding horses

and it worked, along with the music

It was the backdrops created for this opera that received so much attention in the media. Ed Mell is a Southwest artist and he was given the challenge of creating the scenery for Riders of the Purple Sage.  The sunsets, clouds, and mountain silhouettes did indeed give a feel of the desert. The sunsets were magnificent, just like the ones we often see here in AZ. 

Donna and I enjoyed dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Mesa before going to the Park and Ride to catch the Light Rail to the opera. The nearest Light Rail stop was on the south side of Symphony Hall. We only had to walk to the corner of the street and hang a right to the main entrance. We didn't have to worry about finding parking or driving in downtown Phoenix at night and fighting the Bon Jovi concert crowd. For $2.00 someone else took us there and brought us 'almost' home. Donna and I won the award for Best Dressed on the Light Rail on that trip.

Thanks for being my escort Donna. Thank you Laura for my introduction to American Opera. An evening to remember!