12.12.2009

A Night At The Opera

If you've been following me on Twitter (I've been faithfully tweeting every day people!!) you might have noticed that this week James and I had the opportunity to go see the opera Il Tritico at New York's Lincoln Center!!! It could be because of my early training as a dancer,  but since I was little I've always had a big appreciation the performing arts and so to see Il Trittico was a special treat for me.

Lincoln Center is a gorgeous theater and we had our own little box with a great view. We tried to take a few pictures before the opera began but no sooner had we taken out our camera to take this picture - an usher appeared out of no where insisting that we refrain from photography. We obliged, the lights dimmed, the curtain rose and we saw the set of the first act...

It was stunning! The first act takes place on a barge on the river Seine and the forced perspective was so believable that I found myself wondering where the set ended and where the backdrop began. The Opera itself is very dark and brooding, and ends on a very depressing note. The second act is quite different. It is set in the square of a convent and deals with a nuns guilt over past sins..Unlike the first act, the second is quite uplifting in the end. Once again the set was amazing!! The whole floor was on an angle so that everyone could see into the convent. 

At one point a donkey came on stage!? James initially insisted that it was just two midgets in a donkey suit but it turns out it was indeed a real live donkey! This led to a whispered conversation between James and I about this donkey: where did he come from,  and where does he live?? Is he like the Phantom of the Opera, living in the dungeon cellars below Lincoln Center?? And what must be going through the donkeys mind as it goes on stage?!?  Here he is,  walking onto a sloping stage with these weird optical illusion-like props and structures that surely must play tricks on his little donkey brain... and all the while 50 people in nun costume are around him, singing in these loud operatic voices. Not to mention the hundreds of people in the audience watching  on. That donkey must be thinking "what the...?!?". - Anyway, we digress...

The third act is the most popular; a comedy full of greed and conniving. It is set indoors, in a giant old bedroom in Florence and features the soprano aria,  "O mio babino caro" (Oh, my dear papa - see youtube!!), which you might have heard in a number of movies. Its also officially known as "the song that always makes me cry" by the way!! Anyway, between tears I did managed to sneak a picture using my iPhone and amazingly the ninja-usher didn't magically appear to reprimand me!

All in all we had a lovely time. I'd highly recommend seeing Il Trittico to anyone living in New York or visiting!!

XOXO
COCO

P.S By the way, I want to let you know that I've been working very hard on my new line these last few weeks!! We think we have a name and I now have a lot of initial designs and ideas sketched out. That's all I'm allowed to say at the moment but expect a detalied update very soon!!!

37 comments:

Poli said...

i'm not the big opera's fan, the balley is closer to me, but it had to be great, i hope!

xoxo!

Anonymous said...

Good luck, Coco! i've only seen the Phantom of the Opera when i was visiting New York, and it was amazing(: I'm looking forward to your secret-for-now line(:

Anne said...

Thanks for disobeying Ninja Usher! The play looks delightful, glad you had a fun time and yes Lincoln Center is gorgeous That donkey must have been so confused! I'm going to this play soon... super excited! You and James look so nice together
Love ya.. you had great box seats btw!

Ai-Lin said...

I'd would have been better if the donkey really had been two midgets :D and that they somehow managed to combine together over time, to become a donkey.

NOW THAT would be interesting ;)

Gerri Ward said...

WOW! This is sounds sooo exciting! I have to check it out when I visit New York, I luv the OPERA!:))
xoxox,
Gerri

Juliana Pineda said...

omg! I'd love to live in New York, but I'm so far...
I love opera, but here in Colombia there isn't much of it .... but someday!
I'm glad you were happy there with mr. James! and (h5) for takin' forbidden pictures lol!

I'll be waitin' for news about your new line!! I can't wait to see the name! lol (:
have a great sunday (:
and a great week!

Zippy Kid said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

Opera is amazing. :D loves the fashion.

Anonymous said...

lol that's so weird that they felt the need to use a real donkey. Poor thing. I love reading your posts :) It's nice to hear about your life outside of modelling!

We just did a massive amateur fashion photoshoot in Greville Street, Melbourne & would love you to take a peak at what we came up with! Some pretty hot vintage Indie inspired pieces that we're selling :) x.x.

twocoathangers.blogspot.com

ENJOY!

rocco said...

OMG! I've never been in an opera, someday I'll go and there :D I hope (and I'm totally sure) your brand grow and I'd like to buy a cloth of coco... so I'd be nice that you design for men too :D
have a super day dear coco

Zippy Kid said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Antonio Barros said...

I want to see it too!!! :)

thesingular.blogspot.com

Coco-Fan♥ said...

i dont usually go to operas but i go to many ballet performents. Im glad that you enjoy the opera i really just fall asleep at one of them

misslikey said...

glad you enjoyed it...
looking forward to see your line!!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

woohoo looks like you had fun in opera, I seen your tweets also ! :)

Looking forward to see your own clothline, it would be awesome I guess ;)
FORMIDABLE by Mikhaila Rocha ?! Teehee, I just named it!

Good luck Coco!

Anonymous said...

woohoo looks like you had fun in opera, I seen your tweets also ! :)

Looking forward to see your own clothline, it would be awesome I guess ;)
FORMIDABLE by Mikhaila Rocha ?! Teehee, I just named it!lol

Good luck Coco!

From: Nesya xoxo

Zippy Kid said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

thats one of many things i must do in my lifetime....go see an Opera!

X said...

you are beautiful! xxx

Mattia Poletti (Rebel Ekonomist) said...

uuuuu it's amazing that Opera!!!! I wanna see it in NY city too!! I hope one day..in another life maybe heeh

Anonymous said...

Hi Coco!

Im sure your new line is for woman only, but I would love it if you would create a man line as well! There is not enough designer for man... I think it's going to be the next big thing in the next 10 years. Fashion man for the win! :)


Have a nide day Coco!

Charlo, from Quebec!

C A said...

I ADORE Opera, you should come to see Opera in Paris or Milan, is fabulous!

The Fashionart Blog,
MAISON CHAPLIN.blogspot.com

Maria Ana said...

Oh, I'm so jealous,,,!!! :-)

www.thebeautylover.blogspot.com

norine said...

coco u rock

http://fashiontadpole.blogspot.com

http://fashiontadpole.blogspot.com

http://fashiontadpole.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

sounds like fun x

Alexa et Lisa said...

One new post ;) !
I hope u'll go see!
Bisous Bisous!

Agustina said...

coco you`re the best

Lizeth said...

Very exciting!

xoxolizeth

Roxana C said...

hey Coco, how would you say about answering me a few questions for the Romanian Cosmopolitan magazine? here's my mail: roxana.cioriia@sanomahearst.com or bubbling_fate@yahoo.com We really love you here in Romania and we'd like to know more things about you. please get back to me if you agree. xoxo

Nuda Veritas said...

so glad to find people who enjoy the arts! if you enjoy opera, you should definitely check out Turandot (assuming you have not already seen it of course!). the production i saw in Toronto had the most amazing costumes.

keep up the blogging! always a pleasure to read. and a happy holiday to you.

-G

http://nvgv.blogspot.com/

Grace said...

Aw, I love that you enjoy Opera. I am a singer and it is my dream to be an Opera singer one day! Actually, "O mio Babbino caro" is supposed to be a funny song, but is always performed like a sad/love aria.

Zekelicious said...

im not a big fan opera,and in indonesia nothing opera

Shannon-A Girl's Gotta Spa said...

Hi Coco, who can I contact to interview you? Tried to DM you on Twitter (@agirlsgottaspa) about it, but you aren't following me, so it wouldn't let me. Can you DM me to let me know?

Thanks!
Shannon

VĂ©ronique said...

WOW! I've never been to the opere, but it looks great. You're very lucky. I don't know this opera, but it seems really amasing.

Courtney Grace said...

Coco, hi... it's so weird using my name to: someonelse. You seem like a great person and model. I love your blog and website.

i also have a blog fashionistawave.blogspot.com and i was wondering when you go to "layout> pick templete" which templete do you have? you can post the answer on my blog, or anywhere else. thanks sooo much.

xoxo,
coco

Unknown said...

In case you haven't finalized your line's name, I have one more suggestion. How about CocoRico? The Spanish expression, 'que rico', loosely translates as how beautiful, delicious, awesome etc.

ronnie escalante said...

Coco.. can u wear one of my gowns?

-ronnie escalante