DFW, opera

Texas last weekend was wonderful. Great time, longed for weather.

Friday night we went out to Station 4, a gay club in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas. Much dancing and watching of the drag show. My friend T. had never been to a drag show before. She had a fantastic time. On the way home, T. commented that, six years ago, if someone had told her she'd have gay friends, enjoy going to a gay club, and watch a drag show, she'd have laughed her a** off. Of course, six years ago she had bought into the southern Mississippi conservative Baptist idea of what is right and good in the world. A little exposure to other perspectives and, pow!, a new girl.

La Boheme Saturday evening was nice. Not great, not bad, just nice. As I've been to a number of shows at the venue, I was surprised that there were moments when I couldn't clearly hear the Rodolfo. Same thing with the Mimi. Though, this could be because my seat was under an air vent producing an arctic wind. After the second intermission I borrowed my companion's head scarf - one of those nylon ones that create a triangle around your face and tie under your chin. With the nice little visor of nylon to block the wind, I was physically more comfortable.

As for the opera itself, in the times that I have listened to and seen (on video only) La Boheme, I didn't read the libretto. I had the gist, but not the full meaning. Saturday I found, reading the supertitles, that I truly do not care for Mimi. She is all sweetness and light and she makes my teeth hurt. I am going to see Il Trovatore tonight. Perhaps a little operatic bloodlust and old fashioned revenge should displace the cloying, sweet scent of death left in my nose from La Boheme. I have high hopes that the Atlanta Opera won't let me down.