A to Z Challenge…. O is for Opera and our Opera singing gal

 

This is our 15th day of our A to Z challenge and we are up to the letter O.

O is for Opera

More specifically…. I’m talking about the LA Opera.

Normally, John and I are not Opera patrons….. or even opera fans. But this past year we attended 3 LA opera productions. 

Is it because we became musically cultured???? NO…..

Our newly found fondness of the opera is because we went to support our 11 year old grand daughter in her performances.

Claire has an amazing voice. I tried all day to upload a  recent video I made of her singing for you to enjoy… but no matter what I tried, nothing would work. So you will just have to take my word for it… or you could see an old video of her on You Tube at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5068whIcnE   Her video clip is entitled 8 year old Claire sings Solvejgs Lied in German 

In the years since that You Tube clip was made Claire’s voice has gotten better and stronger. Last year she auditioned against hundreds of older girls to get a  part in the opera Noah’s Flood.

She was one of the 3 girls selected to get a main part as one of Noah’s daughters-in-law.

She worked hard rehearsing and learned all the difficult music quickly.

She was in almost every scene, sang in many of the songs and even had 2 solo parts.

She loved being in the show and “ate up” the curtain calls.

She was sad when the show was over but didn’t have to wait long until she was busy at work again.

After working with Claire in Noah’s Flood, James Conlon, the music director of the LA Opera, invited Claire to be in Tosca.

Being in a LA Opera production is a big commitment for Claire and for the family

It is a 50 mile drive, in heavy traffic, to get Claire  to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA for rehearsals, performances and to attend school the day after she worked late on a school night. John helped Mindy and Ernie drive Claire back and forth.

Tosca opened in May of 2013

Not that you can tell but Claire is the 3rd choir member on the left.

Tosca was a beautiful show.

Tosca was our 2nd opera in less than 2 months time. Do you think we looked more cultured?

Before Tosca was over, James Conlon invited Claire to be in Carmen….. but the offer came with a high price to be paid by Claire. Only little boy parts were available. In order to be in Carmen she would have to cut her hair to be no longer than chin length.  Claire loved her beautiful long hair. She did not want to cut it short.

She cried…. she wanted to be in the show but she didn’t want to cut her hair. They had her wear a wig in Tosca but she was only in the 1st act of that production. Since she would be in acts 1,3,and 4 in Carmen, they would not pay her makeup artist to stay for the whole opera and take care of her wig and they don’t allow parents back stage to do it.

She wanted to be in the show badly enough that she decided to cut her hair. The family joined together and we had a “We love Claire without her hair” hair cutting party. She cut off 12 inches and donated it.

After working with Claire in one of the rehearsals, Placido Domingo kissed her on the forehead. She said that she would never wash her forehead again. I hope she has changed her mind about that.

Carmen opened in Sept. We went to see it on Oct. 4th.

I was so happy that my 3 children, 1 grand girl &  D-I-L that live in Utah came to CA to support Claire in her role.

They knew how hard it was for Claire to cut off her hair and they wanted her to know they thought it was important enough to drive 700 miles to see her perform.

I got a couple of shots of Loni and Lynell before the show started.

Claire was a street urchin in acts 1 and 4 and a gypsy child in act 3.

She is the 2nd child on the left. She did a great job.

After the show we took time for a few more pictures…

… before Claire was whisk away to go to the cast party.

The kids in the show were told not to pester the stars but “Carmen” graciously signed Claire’s “Camp Carmen” hat and took time to poise for this picture with 2 of her young cast members. Claire was thrilled. Claire’s has opera in her blood now. Her dream is to become an opera star some day.

Now you can see why I choose Opera and our Opera singing Claire for my O post.

After attending 3 operas last year do you think we are opera fans now?

How do you feel about the opera?

Hugs, Grammy Lura

P.S. This is the 2nd time I’ve written this post. I finished it the first time at midnight and tried to publish it.  It would not publish… and… it totally disappeared even though I had saved it. I went to bed and couldn’t sleep because I was disappointed all my work was for nothing. It is now 2:30 a.m. I got up an hour ago to redo the whole thing. I hope it will publish this time.  Wish me luck. (Of course if you see this it published and I don’t need good luck wishes…. oh well… good luck wishes are always good to get.)