Background
Music: Vesti La Giubba, by Victor Marchese, Marlene's Uncle!!
Palermo 2007
Page Three
Night at the Opera
'Night
of the Opera" !!! Had long awaited this event !!! Glorious Teatro Massimo,
built in1875, yearof my grandfather's birth, just up the street about 5 miles.
Saw 2 operas, Cavalleria Rusticana and PAGLIACCI. What a thrill, a night I will
always remember.
The
front of the theatre, horse-drawn carraiges for rent. No more Sicilian painted
carts, they are in museums now.
This
is one of the beautiful statues at the side of the steps to the Opera House.
This was truly a "Night to Remember."
Here
is the outside billboard. We waited outside the locked gate for entrance to
the performance. Was worried my "on-line" tickets may not work, but
they did.Our seats were in the "peanut gallery" but who cares, I was
there !!!
After
the performance the place was lit-up!A very exciting night !! Everyone was taking
pictures and videos, it was the finale of the Opera Season. During Pagliacci,
I thought of my Uncle Victor, he sang the famous crying scene alot in his career.
Before
the Opera, 2 couples had a special dinner on the Piazza in front of the Theatre.The
food was from a nearby restaurant..
The
beautiful Opera boxes, 5 floors of them. We were in the center on the 5th floor.
The house was packed, the Sicilians buy an opera box for the whole season. The
prices are quite reasonable compared to the US Opera tickets.
Teatro
Massimo, one of the largest Opera Houses in Europe, is lavishly decorated within
and monumental in size (9200 sq. yds)
Here is the stage. When built in 1800's it was the first
one to have a deep stage for the operas. There was room for many backgrounds
etc. There was a full symphony orchestra playing. I sneaked these photos, after
the performance, not allowed.
Click
on Pictures for Enlargement or Click on Flag Villa Tasca Page
Our after-Opera dinner on Via Roma in the Piazza Santa
Domenico. Food great ! End of perfect day. Background
singing by Uncle Victor Marchese
