June 8, 2009

Opera in the Park is Extravagantly Entertaining

Thousands gathered at AT&T Park last night to enjoy Puccini’s Tosca, overpriced beer, and a gorgeous twilight as San Francisco Opera continued its tradition of Opera In the Park. Birds flew past the screen as an almost full moon emerged, disappeared, and reemerged from behind billowing clouds. Toddlers roamed around what, on a normal evening, would be called the bullpen and boats’ masts were visible in McCovey Cove, but instead of hoping to catch home runs, boaters were, as one attendee put it, simply sailing the high “C’s.”

The crowd at the ballpark was less reserved than the usual opera house gathering, laughing uproariously as Tosca shyly pulled away from a kiss as the supertitles read “Not in front of the Madonna!” they cheered loudly as she stabbed Scarpia to death. Long lines at concession stands did not thin when the singing began, and the outfield was a patchwork of blankets spread by picnickers. Many folks, when asked if they were opera fans answered “yes,” but few of them confess to being regular attendees at the opera house.

On occasion, the setting seemed to match the music beautifully. A flock of seagulls rose in circles around the park during Tosca’s aria, “Vissi d’arte,” and darkness descended as the plot thickened.

1. A lady wearing a baseball cap with a tiara on top of it:

SFCV: Have you come far?

No. I live in the city.

SFCV: Why did you come tonight?

It was available and free.

SFCV: Did you come last year?

I’ve come to all of them. I went to Civic Center, Yerba Buena. It’s great.

2. Marcus, from Portola.

SFCV: Do you go to the opera often?

It’s been a while. (He gestures to the two-year-old child wriggling on his lap.)

3. Denise, Donna, and Helen from Burlingame and San Francisco, enthusiastic opera fans.

Helen: We went to the discussion of the opera guild.

Denise: Last year, Helen told me about it and I came and this year we went to the Opera Guild’s free classes and we learned all about Tosca, decided we liked it, so went back and learned all about Porgy and Bess. And then Helen bought tickets to Tosca, I bought tickets to La Traviata and Donna bough tickets to Porgy and Bess. We’re just on board with the whole thing! I go to the library and I get videos and read books on opera now!

(Helen waves a book about Tosca proudly.)

SFCV: Do you think Opera at the Ball Park is the reason for that?

Denise: Oh it was the whole catalyst.

Donna: Opera is the best of everything!

4. A young couple named Becky and Wade is happy to be there but wishes they had better seats. Craning their necks to see and not being able to understand what was said sent them to the beer line in the middle of the first act.

5. Patrick, from the Mission district. He doesn’t go to the opera house but likes opera at the park.

Patrick: It’s relaxed and it’s free, which is always good! It’s a great juxtaposition between the smell of garlic fries and high art.

6. Three boys around 13 years old were hanging out in the field club chatting as the opera went on. Garret, Spencer, and Ben laughed heartily when asked if they were opera fans.

SFCV: Have you ever been to the opera?

Ben: No ... My parents have.

SFCV: Do you like the opera tonight?

Garret: I like that it’s at the ballpark.

SFCV: Do you guys like music?

Garret: We’re in a band.