A Dream Realized

"Opera is a planet where the muses work together, join hands and celebrate all the arts.”
Franco Zeffirelli

 

You may or may not know that once upon a time, I used to sing opera. In fact on my birthday 40 years ago, I was winning the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions. (It was a very happy birthday!) I sang with a number of regional companies and orchestras, and was offered an artist-in-residence position with a company in Europe. However, singing professionally turned out not to be compatible with having a normal home life, so I didn't go to Europe and traded one dream for a better one--my family.

But I still love opera. It speaks to my soul. 

So once we knew when we'd be in Sydney on this cruise, my DH started watching the opera company's website so he could snag a couple of tickets for whatever was being presented on the day we'd be "Down Under."

It turned out to be "La Traviata," an operatic tour de force, and incidentally the first opera the DH and I ever attended together back when we were first dating! I've studied the role of Violetta and sang her Sempre Libera in many competitions, but never performed the entire role. However, after hearing Samatha Clarke sing Violetta, I hung my head in shame. She is a remarkable coloratura soprano. Read: very high voice that is strong enough to fill a hall the size of Sydney's Joan Sutherland auditorium without amplification, and yet facile enough to effortlessly shape the runs and trills. Having the "money notes" is important, but having a "trick piano," the ability to sing very high and very softly at the same time really pulls an audience in.

Samantha Clarke is a singer in full possession of her glorious instrument (her voice) and as an added bonus is a beautiful actress as well. She made me weep. I managed to speak to her after the show and compliment her phrasing and the way she shaped all her runs and embellishments in ways that really communicated the pathos of Violetta. I'm sure I was babbling, but she was totally gracious.

Samantha Clarke on my right, Catherine Bouchier who sang Annina (Violetta's maid) on my left and there I am, the short little dunker in the middle surrounded by gorgeous, very tall divas!

  

I was flying high after this amazing experience, but our day was not over.  We met back up with new friends, Susan and Cecile, we'd come to the opera with and grabbed a cab. We'd all skipped lunch (La Traviata started at 12:30pm so we were all peckish) and Susan had scouted out Raggazzi's, a little hole-in-the-wall Italian place next to the Sydney City Recital Hall.

Susan and Cecile, fellow opera lovers because their daughter-in-law is a soprano. It's always more fun to explore a big city with friends. 

Viking had arranged a special concert of the Brandenburg Baroque Chamber Orchestra at Sydney City Recital Hall for all Sky guests who wanted to attend. The program was heavy on Vivaldi, so it was glorious. But they diverged from Vivaldi to include Pachelbel's Cannon in D. This piece is so mathematically perfect, so achingly sweet, that it's an affirmation that there is still truth and beauty in the world. (Of course, I also used to use it in the car to get the kids to sleep when we traveled! It always worked like a charm.)

In the morning, we'd taken the city water shuttle that dropped us off at the steps of the Opera House. After the Brandenburg concert, we hitched a ride back to the ship on one of the buses Viking had arranged for the outing.  

The Sydney Opera House in the shadow of the Sydney Harbor Bridge (affectionately known by locals as "the Coat Hanger." 

For our second day in Sydney, we took the included Harbor cruise tour excursion. It is a huge harbor and heavily developed all around. According to our tour guide, it's a very expensive city to live in. Studio apartments can be well over a million AUDollars. 

Walking the Coathanger is an available excursion, but not one I'm up to. They are understandibly strict about the fitness level of those who line up to take the walk. You'll need to demonstrate an ability to climb stairs and ladders with ease. In fact, if you're over 75 you'll need a letter from your physician stating you're healthy enough to make the trip.

This little amusement park at the water's edge has been there for over a hundred years. But that didn't stop the people who built homes and buildings on the land behind it from complaining about the noise people make when they're having fun! 

We decided to have a lazy day after our morning harbour cruise and even ordered room service on our balcony. It was the perfect place to enjoy our 6 PM sail out. 

My hero and the one who makes all my dreams come true!

Thank you, Sydney. Like Hawaii, I've decided not to say goodbye to you. I'll always hope to visit just one more time...