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I went to see Verdi’s Aida tonight, performed by Southern Opera and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Aida has a reputation for being the best opera spectacle on the planet – when fully staged. This version was “in concert”, meaning that there are no sets or props, and the soloists just stand at the front of the stage singing. I was hesitant about going because of this, but I thought I would give it a go. I had hoped that at least the principals would be in costume or something, but no: they were all in standard concert attire. Given that a) it was sung in Italian, b) there were no sur- or sub-titles, c) I’m not very familiar with the opera, and d) the principals weren’t in costume, it was initially hard for me to work out who was who: which guy was the Pharaoh, and which the King of Ethiopia? Which woman was the slave girl and which the princess? I got it figured out in the end.

Despite all this, I was very glad that I decided to go, as the music was just stunning. There were lots of stirring marches, even if I didn’t know what I was supposed to be stirred by, and lots of gorgeous arias. The soloists ranged from pretty darn good to just plain astonishing. They managed to fill the auditorium and hold their own against the orchestra. Powerful stuff.

I just hope one day I get to see a fully staged version.

I really really dig the lyrics of some of the songs on the Claudia Christian CD. I’m sure there are some Mondegreens in here, but as far as I can tell here are the lyrics for Beige MG:

Beige MG by Bill Mumy.

Sitting next to me,
In a beige MG,
By the Malibu Sea,
In back and white.
I can hear your laugh,
Through the photograph,
That I tore in half,
Late last night.

Maybe it’s the weather,
Maybe it’s the moon,
Maybe I’ve gone crazy,
A little bit too soon.
Maybe it’s important,
Maybe it is not,
Perhaps you know the name,
Of what it is I’ve got.

It’s a shade of blue,
It’s a lie come true,
It’s that look from you,
That I fear.
It’s a world gone mad,
I ever had, (???)
Irresistibly sad,
There and here.

Maybe it’s the weather,
Maybe it’s the moon,
Maybe I’ve gone crazy,
A little bit too soon.
Maybe it’s important,
Maybe it is not,
Perhaps you know the name,
Of what it is I’ve got.

Call it what you will.
It warms me with the chill.

It’s a rainy night,
By the firelight,
Something isn’t right,
But nothing’s wrong.
So I’m far away,
But I’m here today,
As this passion play,
Rolls on and on.

Maybe it’s the weather,
Maybe it’s the moon,
Maybe I’ve gone crazy,
A little bit too soon.
Maybe it’s important,
Maybe it is not,
Perhaps you know the name,
Of what it is I’ve got.

Sitting next to me,
In a beige MG,
By the Malibu Sea,
In back and white.
I can hear your laugh,
Through the photograph,
That I tore in half,
Late last night.