Day 167: Awesome Opera

Sorry that this post is a day late. I got in very late and was too tired to post it. One of the benefits of attending Shenandoah Conservatory is getting to see capital performances at the Kennedy center in DC. Last night I saw opera singer, Pretty Yende, in concert. She's a famous soprano from South Africa. She sang and looked gorgeous. While I am definitely not a fan of opera, I'm broadening my horizons and thought I would go. During the first few songs I was a little bored but when she sang her act I closer I realized just how brilliant opera can be. She just sang high notes like it was nothing. When she sang rapid passages of runs, you could hear every note. Granted, none of it was in English, but it didn't matter because it was so gorgeous and her face, body, and voice acted the emotion and the point of the song. My second favorite song she sang was some song by Liszt. She had 10 curtain calls and two encores. For her second encore, she brought down the house with O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini. It was incredible. For music all that was needed was a piano. It was that simple: a voice and a piano. No mics, just her sound. I never understood why people said brava at opera but after last night I get it perfectly. All I have to say now to Pretty Yende is Brava!!! Thanks for opening my eyes to opera.