Opera in the Street

Richard

The Madrid Opera held a fun event last weekend. They had small stages set up around a large plaza and on each stage they enacted short bits from various works by Mozart. It was mobbed with people, but I managed to get a few clear shots. These are my favorites:

Hope you like them. C&C always welcome.

Cheers,

Icebear

All fantastic shots, but my fav is the first. Such a startling anachronism, the 18th century rich girl, all dolled up for the masked ball, with a shoulder tatoo!!

Frog Lady

crisp, fun shots Richard. You got some great facial expressions. It's interesting though, all the somewhat garish make-up and close ups with foam around the hair/hats really make me wonder at the illusion they are trying to create when you view the people from a distance.

C.

Agnieszka

FANTASTIC shots!!

Nikolai

Nice work, Richard, as always!

Visital

Great Shots. The second one is my favorite.

JimW

I think opera is so bizarre. My favorites are 1-2-4-5. Good job getting these in such a crowd. Thanks for sharing Richard.

Were there tattoos in Mozarts' day?

Jim

Richard

Thanks so much for the kind words, everyone. I do appreciate it.

I have no idea if there were tattoos in Mozart's day, but I'm pretty sure there weren't any sleeveless tops. What went on in the hidden corners of the Royal Courts of the day probably wasn't too different from the lives of today's rich and famous.

As for the tackiness of the costumes, well, this was a free event and they were slumming it a bit. I think they were really just meant to be comical. I go to the opera regularly, but I can't afford to sit close enough to say how good the real costumes are.

I only started warming up to opera about five years ago, though I have been a classical music fan all my life. It took me more than a little getting used to. You need to get beyond the ridiculous plots and archaic language and focus on the wonderful melodies and the nearly miraculous quality of the great singers.

Cheers,

Elaine

These are great! I think my favorite is #2, but they all are expressive and colorful and crisp.

jeffreaux2

I am really liking #4.

That headpiece looks HHEEAAVVYY!!!

Looks like everyone had fun. Thanks for sharing.

Cuong

Looks like pipe insulation makes wonderful hair piece replicas. Love the perspective and high key on #3.

Cuong

Richard

yukio wrote:

Looks like pipe insulation makes wonderful hair piece replicas. Love the perspective and high key on #3.

Cuong

Thanks a lot, Elaine, Jeff and Cuong. I didn't have much choice in the perspective on #3, as she was up on some very tall stilts. But I sort of like the way it came out.