Friday, June 26, 2009

NO SUN DRIED TEARS


Every summer holiday
I take an iPod or two with me.
Before that a case load of CD's
before that a case load of cassettes!

Always always
I listen to one Opera.
I have two versions of it.
I listen and know every
beat
every
heartbeat.
Every note
every climax
ever sob
knock on the door
every melody.
I always listen to Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

This year we are not holiday-ing.
No beached whale with headphones.
No sun bleached beach cafes to practice Juliet Bravo.
No rooftop tavernas overlooking a Greek harbour.
No Puccini in the sun.
No weeping as the Opera unfolds.
No sun dried tears.

For my birthday Joan made
a dream of mine come true.
We went to see Madame Butterfly
at the London Coliseum Theatre.

I knew every note.
I loved every solo.
I loved every spoken/sung lyric.
(for the first time ever!
I heard an English version)
and it was magnificent.

What surprised me was the production.
What touched my inner and outer
was the colour scope.
Not just the costumes
but the lighting and stage rig.
It brought extra dimensions into my brain.
And I shed a tear at the end.

If you ever have the chance ............