When we moved to Italy in 2019, Annie was 9 years old. We met up with Aunt Swanee and some of her family in Florence for a few days. She took the group to a live performance of Puccini's opera, Mme. Butterfly. It was Annie's first opera. She was following along. She started bawling at the tragic ending. Aunt Swanee was touched by Annie's heart and how deeply she feels, and how intensely she experienced the opera--a bit unusual for a young girl.
To my great amazement, this year, Annie's choir director collaborated with an opera director from Palermo, Sicily, and the choir was invited to audition for the opera they would put on--Mme. Butterfly! To my greater amazement, Annie had to learn the whole chorus part from the entire score just to audition. She did so and nailed the audition. She was a superstar on stage, at 15 years old, performing the opera she had seen 6 years prior. I had to pinch myself. What an honor and glorious experience for all of us!
In the many hours I sat in rehearsals, I particularly loved hearing the cellist as he worked up his part. Oh, nothing is more beautiful than the cello!
No comments:
Post a Comment