On a High Note: Arabella at The Met Opera
I’m wearing a velvet black blazer in my pink eyeglasses and lighting up a girl joint for Arabella at The Metropolitan Opera- the final opera by Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal and a tale of a family in financial crisis who miraculously finds a rich suitor for their “one” daughter Arabella right away in Act I before the opera even gets going. The “one” meaning the family is hiding their other daughter by dressing her up as a boy to save on money.
After grabbing tickets from a past cohort from grad school I venture to Sweet Green before, regretting to not make a reservation somewhere else the day before while I sift through my kale and sweet potato salad (have you had the harvest salad it’s kind of the best one sorry if you don’t have taste). Groundbreaking to want a nice meal near the theatre, I know.
I love to people watch at shows. Who is together, who are lovers, who are introducing their friends to a new experience, who are theatre veterans and know their way around. Before I people watch I tuck myself away in my red corner to take videos and selfies because there is not a more self indulgent bitch then when I’m high, at the opera, and in a hot, little outfit. As I find my seat I notice two rows in front of me someone I know who works at Opera America spotted during one of my various creative jobs in the city. Maybe the same day Clinton Kelly and I passed knowing smiles to one another that I knew that he knew that I knew who he was and perhaps that I had on an outfit that suited my personality.
Act I.
I was more preoccupied with the neuroses of the audience around me although finding out about the character Zdenka (the hidden sister) I feel there’s a production that could take a masc lesbian POV where the parents are hiding their lesbian daughter but I digress. Alas, at one point it seemed like someone in the audience was destined to let out a sneeze for the entirety of the act that sounded like when you check your tire pressure gauge after it’s been cold during the night. Another point I wonder what it’s like to see a soprano star in the very front row at The Met like with Rachel Willis-Sørensen ahead of me as Arabella back in orchestra row R (which are still fabulous seats)—I add it to my wishlist. Top stars personally involve Nadine Sierra or Angel Blue.
Intermission.
Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera, Arabella 2025.
Act II.
Act II begins with a still image of the cast onstage with the transitioned set as the curtains pull to each side and reminds me of the Gilmore Girls episode where Rory has the ferret on her shoulder for the festival of living art, imitating the work of Parmigianino’s ‘Portrait of a Young Woman called ‘Antea,’ of which in real life you can see at Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Napoli, Italy as part of its permanent collection. The second act affirms for me how I just cannot care for love stories of straight people unless it’s in an early 2000’s rom com (arguably How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is the best). If I have my way, I want my operas dirty, tragic, and sexy.
Left, Gilmore Girls Season 4, Episode 7, titled "The Festival of Living Art.” Right, Parmigianino’s ‘Portrait of a Young Woman called ‘Antea.’
I want my operas dirty, tragic, and sexy.
Intermission.
We get to the next intermission and I wonder if people are leaving for good. It’s 10:35pm. I desperately need a burger and a crisp Coke. Time passes as I twiddle my thumbs now 10:51pm. Why make an opera this long or could we start it at 7? 7:30? It’s a happy opera there isn’t even anything for me to wonder in tension just what will happen and the stakes are so so low.
Act III.
The opera finishes around 11:47pm. Everyone gets everything they want even the daughter dressed up as a boy ends up with the man who didn’t know she was a boy but was speaking to her the entire time. There’s something gay and trans there I just feel it in my bones, but what I can say is there is no one more committed to the art than an opera fan, but for the love of god preferably let me leave the theatre at 11:00PM, 11:30PM tops.
