Carmen
Talk about the origins of taste. Last week I went to see “Carmen” at the Metropolitan Opera. I’d never been, so even being in that building was an experience. PETA would have a field day with all the old ladies in fur coats. There were men in tuxedos and women in floor-length dresses. When I watched the lights go up before the opera began, I felt like Cher in “Moonstruck” except without the huge fabulous wig and a man with a wooden hand at my side.
I thought the opera was wonderful, having listened to the music since I bought one of those bargain classical cds of Bizet for really cheap several years ago. The old couple next to me, clearly season ticket holders, complained between Act 1 and 2 that the lyrics were repetitive and the plot was slow. At intermission they left, probably preferring Verdi or Puccini or some other opera composer I hadn’t heard or cared about. I enjoyed it all the same.
So today, when writing the review, I wanted to listen to the music again and this video popped up on my YouTube search, reminding me of why I was drawn to listen to the opera in the first place. This little scene with the singing orange was burned into my memory as a child. It was one of my favorites. I always loved claymation. It’s just amusing how the seeds are planted at that young age. And now I guess I can understand why those Baby Einstein toys pretentiously offer snippets of Mozart with the little hunks of plastic that have a bunch of buttons that light up, which I always presumed were really just baiting a development of ADHD at a young age over anything else.
But yeah the lyrics were totally repetitive. Here’s a translation of the lyrics of the Habanera: (also the translation at the opera had “If I love you, watch out!” rather than” if I love you, you’d best beware!” which I’m sure sent those old people over the edge.
- When will I love you?
- Good Lord, I don’t know,
- Maybe never, maybe tomorrow.
- But not today, that’s for sure.
- Love is a rebellious bird
- that nobody can tame,
- and you call him quite in vain
- if it suits him not to come.
- Nothing helps, neither threat nor prayer.
- One man talks well, the other keeps silent;
- it’s the other one that I prefer.
- He never said anything, but I like his looks.
- Love! Love! Love! Love!
- Love is a gypsy’s child,
- it has never, ever, recognized the law;
- if you love me not, then I love you;
- if I love you, you’d best beware!
- if you love me not,
- if you love me not, then I love you;
- but if I love you,
- if I love you, you’d best beware!
- if you love me not,
- if you love me not, then I love you;
- but if I love you,
- if I love you, you’d best beware!
- The bird you thought you had caught
- beat its wings and flew away …
- love stays away, you wait and wait;
- when least expected, there it is!
- All around you, swift, swift,
- it comes, goes, then it returns …
- you think you hold it fast, it flees
- you think you’re free, it holds you fast.
- Love! Love! Love! Love!
- Love is a gypsy child,
- it has never, ever, known law;
- if you love me not, then I love you;
- if I love you, you’d best beware!
