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Opera Takes Center Stage

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

English journalist John Evelyn, after seeing his first opera in 1735, called it "the most extravagant entertainment conceived by the mind of man." A French journalist writing in the same period deemed opera "a fight between composer and librettist which neither wins." Some 273 years later the controversy still lingers: Some people like opera; some do not. Some can take it or leave it.

Regardless of their stance on the matter, Freedom Plaza residents are looking forward with interest to palatable doses of operatic music during the month, for opera is November's "Music of Our Lives" selection.

For the past 10 months, these monthly musical subjects, designated by Freedom Plaza's parent company, Brookdale, have given rise to socials, entertainments, art projects and discussions. Residents have swooned over "Elvis," applauded "Liberace," danced the hula, dressed as "flappers," and exercised with hoola-hoops in keeping with the monthly themes. They have also enjoyed live concerts of such diverse musical forms as blues, bluegrass, Broadway, classical, country, and jazz.

And now they come to opera, or rather, opera comes to them. It comes daily as opera overtures and orchestral interludes are played over the atrium speaker system. It comes as the focus of "Murder in a Minor Key," a mystery dinner plot built around Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute. It will come as a finale to "opera month" in the form of a party reminiscent of the grand soiree that opens Verdi's opera, "La Traviata." Ball gowns and frilled shirts will not be required of party-goers, but everyone is expected to join in the revelry and the Champagne toast, "Libiamo." To enhance the event, party scenes from other operas will be recalled via video excerpts.

December will bring the "Music of our Lives" theme to a close with traditional holiday offerings, and also with reflections on how great a part music has played, and continues to play, in our lives.

Peggy Burgess is a creative director for Freedom Plaza.

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