#Mezzosexual

[warningsine]

Speaking of lesbian stuff in operas, let's go back to our roots for a moment:

[mywingsareonwheels]

I have just watched the Glyndebourne production of Cendrillon (Massenet) on marquee.tv, starring Danielle de Niese as Cinderella and Kate Lindsey as Prince Charming.

Some observations:-

- this production is extra queer* and I approve of this so much.

- it is however also ambiguous and weird to the point of being just confusing and at times upsetting and I am not sure it actually worked that well as a production overall. But...

- the costumes were spectacular holy shit.

- the singing OH MY GODS THE SINGING HALP it was just spectacular, especially the two leads and Nina Minasyan as the Fairy Godmother.

- AAAAAAAAAAAAH I AM CRUSHING SO HARD ON KATE LINDSEY NOW AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

- like I already was after seeing the Metropolitan Opera production of Agrippina (broadcast last year!) with her as Nerone. But now. HALP. I need to see her in all the things. I am so smitten.

- in a weird way she reminds me of Sebastian Stan. They don’t look alike, and they work in different fields, but they both have a mixture of extreme competence, of *incredible* intensity in intense roles, and breathtakingly cute smiles. Also reputations for being lovely in real life. A devastating combination frankly.

- I should really listen to more Massenet, and get to know the music of Cendrillon especially.

In short: really glad I watched this, but one day maybe Glyndebourne will have the courage to have queer intepretations of operas that are also classic and glossy and straightforward (and cute!). Which would, at this point in time, be actually more radical.

*I mean there are always queer implications when the leading male role is a britches role, but this one went further.

[verdiprati]

Cheers to the YouTuber who uploaded Sarah Connolly’s “Al lampo dell’armi” on Handel’s birthday yesterday. 

(I don’t expect this one to stick around very long, because Gl-nd-b--rn- stays on top of such things, but we can all enjoy it while it lasts.)

[palimadar]

Wallis Giunta and Meghan Lindsay in Mozart's Idomeneo at Opera Atelier (Toronto, 2019) (photos by Bruce Zinger)

[angrysoprano]

Me, Playing a woman: *Accidentally leading my dance partner the whole time*

Choreographer: You’re leading again!

Partner: Did she ever stop?

Me: I would do no such thing.

Me, Playing a man: Sorry if I’m bad, I’m not used to leading.

Me, Internally: Ah yes, finally, my element.

My partner, as we twirl dramatically across the stage: Are you sure you’ve never led before?

Me, a liar: Not much.

[mezzosexuality]

“I relate to Sesto because I too am an ineffective 13 year old boy in an adult, female-presenting body.”

-Me, Watching Giulio Cesare for the 5th time this week

[mezzowatch]

it’s my birthday AND pride month so naturally here’s a collection of some of my favorite Gay Opera Kisses

singers/operas in captions

[woollymitts]

I was innocently looking on youtube for a Saint Saens arrangement, this came up on my feed and now I have disappeared down a Marianne shaped hole. Nobody save me. Especially from her Cherubino. Dang I can never stay away from the mezzosexual tag.

If you want to cry, listen to the harmony at 1:05.

The soprano is rapturous, but for me the mezzo outshines even Sabine.

Listening to this will improve you life. I kid you not.

[elisa-eager-eagle-eyed]

This gem I found on Youtube.

[sopranoentravesti]

Me when a libretto translation tries to tone down either Sesto's gay shit with Tito or the meta level gay shit with between mezzo and soprano: 😒

[sorcere-16]

Marianne Crebassa as Cherubino.

Credit: Marty Sohl/Met Opera

[mstanyawinslow]

TRUE FACTS

Why do you like opera?

The unamplifed voices, there is nothing like it.

The history of opera itself.

Hearing a full orchestra LIVE

Opera houses! The architecture!

The costumes! Good lord the costumes

The audiences are unlike anything…ever

Oh and…you know, woman kissing women…there is that.

lesbians

[mezzosexuality]

Currently trying to explain to my family why one of my favorite opera tropes is a pants mezzo dressing as a woman without launching into a disertation on the extra layer of ambiguity this adds to the already ambiguous gender roles within opera...

[mezzowatch]

hello sorry i can’t hear you over the sound of my heart breaking in twain

Kate Lindsey’s first Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier with Elizabeth Sutphan as Sophie, Glyndebourne 2018

[voi-che-sapete]

okay so does ANYONE in the operasphere know where one might get their hands on either a physical or online copy of the Casanova Variations movie? i need it. for reasons.

[mstanyawinslow]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

Elina Garanča as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier ♥