Expectation Exceeded: Fantastic

1
Last night I experienced Opera Carolina's Madama Butterfly, which far exceeded my expectations! Not to sound pretentious, Jun Kaneko's set and costumes were stunning. Several times "Wow!" escaped my lips. Kaneko truly used the space. I couldn't use my binoculars much because I wanted to see the entire stage.

2
I was expecting a cheesy, over-the-top love story. Instead, I got politics: American Imperialism, Orientalism, gender politics, socioeconomics. There's also the age old story of the naivete of a 15 year-old girl glossing over a multitude of obvious red flags-- Madama Butterfly, it so much easier to see what you want to see instead of what's there. I heard the tail-end of a lecture before the show, and the woman said this opera's themes could be distilled into "joy, love and pain." I didn't get that at all. What I came away with is how political and personal history intersect in very real ways. We are our culture, and our culture has deep imprints on our identities and attitudes. It is a love story full of joy and pain, but love stories aren't separate from macro-history. Also, the power of art and creativity is actually breath-taking. Amazing art, whether a poem, novel, mobile, sculpture, sonata, opera, painting, transfixes and transforms.

3
I've never been to an opera where the visual component was as powerful and integrated with the music. Puccini does flamboyance well. Kaneko complemented without competing with the music. I was truly engaged with the multi-sensory experience. My mind was busy taking in all the beauty and ideas. The performance was enchanting. I escaped all my worries and entered into this world of love, politics, and beauty.

4
The Mint has some of Kaneko's art on exhibition concurrently. Brilliant. He does minimalism so well. Apparently, ever since Kaneko designed this set and costumes it has been awing audiences throughout North America. And, I know why. Even if you don't like opera, you'd be hard pressed not to like this performance.


1. http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=24385 (stage)

2. http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/orchestrating-a-simple-wipe (death scene)

3. http://www.wfae.org/wfae/19_100_0.cfm?action=display&id=8157 (curtain)

4. http://www.locksgallery.com/news_item.php?nid=1 (vases)