A Most Unique Experience!!!
The B1e2i3j4i5n6g Opera
I could write a unique 'creative' piece about our experience at the opera but after perusing my journal entry of the experience--I don't think I can improve upon it much more. If you ever get the opportunity to attend the B1e2i3j4i5n6g Opera--please do your research beforehand and GO!
It was the HIGHLIGHT of our trip!!!
I laughed so hard, I cried.
Convulsions!
My ears hurt.
Migraine started.
PAIN or PLEASURE?
We endured it with an Israeli tour group.
The introduction was interesting--kung fu fighter dancers, back-flips.
The PAIN was the cymbals and drums in a closet-like setting.
Eventually, the kung fu fighting ends and we transition to beautiful China doll opera Geisha-girl setting, accompanied by traditional "hand-violin" instruments.
These instruments appear to play nothing in tune.
Every couple of minutes, yes MINUTES, the lady sings three notes of an aria (that makes no sense), then it's back to out of tune violins.
Just when we think it will end, it actually starts over again and the three note arias hit again.
My ears hurt.
Desperate for relief.
I crumple up a dollar bill to cram into my ears to dampen the noise-pain, no luck.
trkr stuffs a pillow over his face.
I laugh.
UNCONTROLLABLY. HYSTERICALLY. Into the pillow. FOR MINUTES!
I think I will die, I'm containing my misery by laughing so hard.
It will never end.
I think this is the result of g1o2v3t4-sponsored art.
I think the opera singer girl is an acrobatic show reject.
Relegated to the three note aria purgatory of the opera.
She's taking her revenge out on us.
I feel sorry for the young man of about 25 years old just starting out as the wooden block banger next to the cymbal guy (who could be his dad), who, in turn, is sitting next to another cymbal-wood block banger guy (who could be his grandfather).
Every 45 seconds he looks to us in agony. He wonders why 20 of the 30 people in the audience get up to leave, mid-aria. "Why leave before the best part?" (I really think he's wondering why the 10 of us remaining in the audience are still here?
The aria ends--after a millenia.
I survive my nervous breakdown...and then...
the cymbals RETURN!
This time, however, the toilet paper wadded up in my ears helps.
I survive the pain and enjoy the final two acts of baton pipe twirlers and kung fu back-handspring, tuck flip fighters.
Thankfully, it ends.
My kids will now KILL ME!
They will never see opera again.
All else will be compared to the "b1e2i3j4i5n6g Opera."
It has become our family bad standard.
Later in the evening, I ask the kids for their true thoughts on the opera.
They lie and say they liked it.
I twist the question around and tie another performance of the acrobat show (which they loved and begged to see again) in with having to sit through another performance of the opera. They say they'd rather not see the opera again. Then, I beg rnrB for the truth. She says she didn't like it but she was obviously trying to protect my feelings. I ask her if she'd rather go letterboxing or see the opera again. She said, "letterboxing." I knew she'd finally told me the truth. ;)
***********************
After we depart the theater, we meet up with the Israeli tour group again. We speak with the 8 or so who stayed through the entire show and then also with the 20 others who abandoned it mid-way through. Interesting discussion. What I eventually learn from one of the ladies who saw the show in its entirety is that she had lost most of her hearing already. That explains why she'd enjoyed it so much. ;)
***********************
Now, leading up to our 'evening at the opera', our guide kept asking us if we were tired from our long day. I said we were doing alright. She pursued, trying to see if we really wanted to go to the opera. I said we'd be interested in seeing it--I'd heard it was 'unique'. Our guide suggested that we go and if the children get too tired, to leave mid-way so we could get them to bed. I wasn't quite sure where she was headed with this...
***********************
Prior to traveling to China, I read a bunch of books trying to make the most of our limited time there during our trip. One book I read was "Culture Shock-China" by Kevin Sinclair with Iris Wong Po-yee. What helped make my opera experience so enjoyable was this passage from Ch 8.
"Go once to a Chinese opera, for the experience. To the western ear, Chinese opera is a dreadful cacophany. To the unskilled eye, the movements of the colourfully adorned performers are scenic but their roles are incomprehensible.
It is wonderful light entertainment, however, compared to Tibetan opera. A good friend took me along to one of these highland cultural performances one night, and in about a century, I will start to think of forgiving him." It continues on and on. Somehow, he magically captured many of the same thoughts I had about our own experience. In his version, the show goes on for four or six hours. That's what I was thinking when we sat through our own performance...thankfully it was only about an hour and a half.
*************************
Fast forward to the morning after the opera...
When we met our guide today she asked about our opera experience. She wondered if we'd left early to put the children to bed. She was amazed that we'd made it through the entire show. I told her it was loud but that I liked the kung fu artists. ;) Wasn't sure if she wanted any more 'truth' or if she really already knew the truth. I'm certain she does. ;)
Moral of the story: Chinese opera? Bring earplugs. The thicker, the better. Bose Noise Cancellation Headphones may work wonders here! Enjoy. It's cultural!
I could write a unique 'creative' piece about our experience at the opera but after perusing my journal entry of the experience--I don't think I can improve upon it much more. If you ever get the opportunity to attend the B1e2i3j4i5n6g Opera--please do your research beforehand and GO!
It was the HIGHLIGHT of our trip!!!
I laughed so hard, I cried.
Convulsions!
My ears hurt.
Migraine started.
PAIN or PLEASURE?
We endured it with an Israeli tour group.
The introduction was interesting--kung fu fighter dancers, back-flips.
The PAIN was the cymbals and drums in a closet-like setting.
Eventually, the kung fu fighting ends and we transition to beautiful China doll opera Geisha-girl setting, accompanied by traditional "hand-violin" instruments.
These instruments appear to play nothing in tune.
Every couple of minutes, yes MINUTES, the lady sings three notes of an aria (that makes no sense), then it's back to out of tune violins.
Just when we think it will end, it actually starts over again and the three note arias hit again.
My ears hurt.
Desperate for relief.
I crumple up a dollar bill to cram into my ears to dampen the noise-pain, no luck.
trkr stuffs a pillow over his face.
I laugh.
UNCONTROLLABLY. HYSTERICALLY. Into the pillow. FOR MINUTES!
I think I will die, I'm containing my misery by laughing so hard.
It will never end.
I think this is the result of g1o2v3t4-sponsored art.
I think the opera singer girl is an acrobatic show reject.
Relegated to the three note aria purgatory of the opera.
She's taking her revenge out on us.
I feel sorry for the young man of about 25 years old just starting out as the wooden block banger next to the cymbal guy (who could be his dad), who, in turn, is sitting next to another cymbal-wood block banger guy (who could be his grandfather).
Every 45 seconds he looks to us in agony. He wonders why 20 of the 30 people in the audience get up to leave, mid-aria. "Why leave before the best part?" (I really think he's wondering why the 10 of us remaining in the audience are still here?
The aria ends--after a millenia.
I survive my nervous breakdown...and then...
the cymbals RETURN!
This time, however, the toilet paper wadded up in my ears helps.
I survive the pain and enjoy the final two acts of baton pipe twirlers and kung fu back-handspring, tuck flip fighters.
Thankfully, it ends.
My kids will now KILL ME!
They will never see opera again.
All else will be compared to the "b1e2i3j4i5n6g Opera."
It has become our family bad standard.
Later in the evening, I ask the kids for their true thoughts on the opera.
They lie and say they liked it.
I twist the question around and tie another performance of the acrobat show (which they loved and begged to see again) in with having to sit through another performance of the opera. They say they'd rather not see the opera again. Then, I beg rnrB for the truth. She says she didn't like it but she was obviously trying to protect my feelings. I ask her if she'd rather go letterboxing or see the opera again. She said, "letterboxing." I knew she'd finally told me the truth. ;)
***********************
After we depart the theater, we meet up with the Israeli tour group again. We speak with the 8 or so who stayed through the entire show and then also with the 20 others who abandoned it mid-way through. Interesting discussion. What I eventually learn from one of the ladies who saw the show in its entirety is that she had lost most of her hearing already. That explains why she'd enjoyed it so much. ;)
***********************
Now, leading up to our 'evening at the opera', our guide kept asking us if we were tired from our long day. I said we were doing alright. She pursued, trying to see if we really wanted to go to the opera. I said we'd be interested in seeing it--I'd heard it was 'unique'. Our guide suggested that we go and if the children get too tired, to leave mid-way so we could get them to bed. I wasn't quite sure where she was headed with this...
***********************
Prior to traveling to China, I read a bunch of books trying to make the most of our limited time there during our trip. One book I read was "Culture Shock-China" by Kevin Sinclair with Iris Wong Po-yee. What helped make my opera experience so enjoyable was this passage from Ch 8.
"Go once to a Chinese opera, for the experience. To the western ear, Chinese opera is a dreadful cacophany. To the unskilled eye, the movements of the colourfully adorned performers are scenic but their roles are incomprehensible.
It is wonderful light entertainment, however, compared to Tibetan opera. A good friend took me along to one of these highland cultural performances one night, and in about a century, I will start to think of forgiving him." It continues on and on. Somehow, he magically captured many of the same thoughts I had about our own experience. In his version, the show goes on for four or six hours. That's what I was thinking when we sat through our own performance...thankfully it was only about an hour and a half.
*************************
Fast forward to the morning after the opera...
When we met our guide today she asked about our opera experience. She wondered if we'd left early to put the children to bed. She was amazed that we'd made it through the entire show. I told her it was loud but that I liked the kung fu artists. ;) Wasn't sure if she wanted any more 'truth' or if she really already knew the truth. I'm certain she does. ;)
Moral of the story: Chinese opera? Bring earplugs. The thicker, the better. Bose Noise Cancellation Headphones may work wonders here! Enjoy. It's cultural!
posted by Adventure Seeker | 6:20 PM
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