I originally didn't know if I was going to make it to Bologna because I was so far south on the Amalfi Coast but at the last minute I felt called to go. After going, I can't believe I almost let such an amazing opportunity pass me by. While studying in Siena, I met Marcia, a mezzo soprano from Denver. She has been performing in the Opera, Sweeny Todd in different cities around Italy, she is the beggar woman (mendicante). I arrived in Bologna via train and promptly got lost. Of course there are two streets called Oberdan. So after almost an hour I arrived at her apartment and she welcomed me with open arms and a huge sit down lunch ready to be eaten. I was famished and she served a delicious bean soup with pasta, an appetizer of marinated artichokes, olives, and bologna ham. We cut off pieces of fresh parmasean with an amazing fig jam. Then a salad, foccacia with bell peppers, and even a glass of red wine. Needless to say, I was in heaven. Marcia gave me a quick tour of Bologna and we hit up a lot of the major landmarks such as the Piazza Maggiore, the fountain of Neptune and of course the The Two Towers. Bologna is a hip, liberal university town filled with students. It is not touristy and it was fun to get to feel like a local for a couple of days.
Marcia had to be in make-up at 7:30 so she bid me farewell. She had gotten me a ticket to the opera but the ticket lady had told her the seat was brutta (bad). Marcia felt horrible about it, but I told her not to worry that I would be just as content to listen to the opera! I took a passeggiata (stroll) around the historic centering enjoying all of the old buildings lit up at night. Then at 8:30 I returned for the show. The opera was held at the Teatro Communale built in the mid 1700's. I walked in and asked where to go. I went to the first level and they told me to go to the second and then they pointed me to a door that said 13. I walked in and realized that my seat was in an OPERA BOX. This was a dream come true for me. I was center stage in an ancient theater in an opera box. I was grinning ear to ear. I had the best seat in the house, non c'era brutta! I looked out over the box at all of the other patrons. Every detail was so beautiful from chandeliers to the painted ceiling. The opera was fabulous and Marcia did a fantastic job. There was quite a bit of blood on stage and lots of laughs. I enjoyed every minute of it. After the show, Marcia had put me on the backstage list where all of the principles were. I got to meet the whole cast and wander around backstage where there were posters of shows dating back to the 1800's. Just when I thought the night couldn't get any better the whole cast of principles decided to go out to dinner. Marica and I arrived at this quaint little Italian trattoria that was clearly staying open for our group. To make things easier we were all served the same thing. To start red and white wine circled the table, then the primo piato, the most amazing bruschetta I have ever tasted. I still have no idea what they did to those tomatoes, but they just melted in my mouth! It was incredible. The secondo piato was seafood risotto filled with shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, you name it. It was so fun for me to get to partake in all of the opera gossip. From the door that didn't open to the stage hands talking and missing a cue, it was all of the little things that only the cast would know. Everyone had sung beautifully and it was fun to relax and hang out. At 2am Marcia and I finally made it back to her apartment after the restaurant kicked us all out!
Seeing this opera truly inspired me and I am looking forward to digging up the arias I know as well as learning new ones. What a unique experience, I love opera!
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