Lo Vivido: a night at the opera

Part of the draw of travel is the prospect of new experiences, meeting new people, and soaking in the culture. In reality, all of these things can be accomplished right in your own hometown. Too often we get stuck in our comfort zones and routines, then complain about how boring our city is. It's time to be proactive and seek out the culture in our own cities!

Thanks to my dear sister Molly, I had the opportunity to experience my very first opera! To be perfectly honest, when I pictured the opera, I imagined portly Italians with oily, slicked-back hair and bosoms spilling out of empire-waist floral gowns. Let me stress: I could not have been more mistaken.

The evening began at Sakura, a Japanese restaurant and bar in St. Paul. The Minnesota Opera invited a group of bloggers to preview Wuthering Heights for its penultimate rehearsal before opening night, and the group convened at Sakura for happy hour and appetizers beforehand.


All dressed up at Sakura!

At around 7pm we made our way over to the Ordway, the venue for the opera located in St. Paul.

The ambiance in the theater was charged with anticipation for the haunting love story by Emily Bronte set to music. I myself did not know what to expect, and could not wait for the lights to dim.

I was not disappointed! Having read Wuthering Heights in high school, I knew that the story line would be memorable, but I was not prepared for the incredible music and unforgettable voices of the performers. For 2 hours and 50 minutes I was transported to the English moors, yearning for Catherine and Heathcliff to figure out their relationship. The music was sung in English, and they thoughtfully included English subtitles above the stage for the viewers' convenience, so I could understand every word of the beautiful performance.


Image via

For those of you looking for a new and cultural experience, I encourage you to give opera a chance. For more information on the Minnesota Opera's Wuthering Heights visit their website.