We learned a lot about each other & our family on the trip. Aunt Ann-Marie told me Dad kept a list of every movie which opened in New York after 1964 (now I know where my list-making obsession comes from). AAM learned their father fought at Normandy. And we devised a barter system upon Dad and AAM's return to the US - Dad will give AAM the Bochicchio history book in return for the recipe for Grandma's anisette cookies (aka the original "Little Nasties").
On Sunday night, we went to the opening of Bluebeard's Castle, a one-act opera by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. After our long opera experience in Vienna, we were happy that Wikipedia said the opera "lasts only a little over an hour."
According to Wikipedia, Bluebeard brings his new wife Judith home to his castle for the first time. Upon arriving, Judith insists that all the doors be opened to allow light to enter the gloomy castle. Bluebeard refuses, saying that they are private places not to be explored by others, and asks Judith to love him but ask no questions. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, Judith doesn't take this as a hint to bolt.
Judith gets her way and all seven doors are opened. Behind the seventh door are Bluebeard's three former wives, who are mute and dressed in heavy jewelry and black robes. Despite her protests, Judith is forced to put on the same dress and disappears behind the door. The background fades to black and the opera is over.
This is probably a comedy by Hungarian standards.
About to leave, we notice that no one else is leaving the opera house. Because I am a bad Hungarian student, I cannot read the program but can make out the word "twice." I don't want to stick around to find out what "twice" means, but Dad and AAM overrule me. We return to our seats for the second act of the reportedly one-act opera. The second act is the first act all over again. One opera. Twice.
You may think Dad & AAM look so happy because there was no "thrice" part of Bluebeard's Castle, but this picture was taken minutes after they found out the Red Sox were swept.
Overall, the only disappointment of the weekend was that we missed this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/09/miss-plastic-hungary-2009_n_316181.html
yeyey! time to plan the next famiglia trip!
ReplyDeleteDid the list-making gene get passed to me too? I think so.
ReplyDeleteCute pictures, Zan. I like the one where Aunt Anne Marie is forcing Dad to smile.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra, Dad looks like he is about to throw-up all over the top of your head in the 1st photo.
ReplyDelete