TURANDOT

9 July 2014 9pm

 Arena di Verona

 Poltronissime Gold

 Row 03, Seat 034

It wasn’t a particularly wet night but there was enough moisture in the air to cause concern. Would the night be called off early?

Arena di Verona is an impressive sight by night or day, and its incarnation as an open air venue for world class performance withing the surrounds of an ancient structure is a fabulous concept to which thousands of people flock each summer.

It provides an ordered seating arrangement in the centre of the arena, and unnumbered seating on the stone steps, almost all the way around, allowing maximum numbers to squeeze in – when the weather’s fine.

To avoid the intermittent raindrops, we could buy ponchos for a couple of Euros, which according to one English gentleman, looked quite smart.

The gloominess and threatening skies,  meant this particular performance probably wasn’t as well attended as it may otherwise have been, but it was still delivered with much enthusiasm by the cast, the aural blend of vocals and orchestra reverberating strikingly off the stone surrounds.

No photos are meant to be taken, but I manged to sneak in a couple for memories sake.  Being so close to the orchestra was a treat, each member playing their part so earnestly, whom together when combined make up the whole picture, each like daubs of paint when viewed individually would seem of little significance.

Likewise, the supporting cast of 100 or so, who sang plenty and remained in character even out of scene.

Sets were craned into place between acts, which was quite interesting, during which there was a mad rush by most to the bar.

I think I’d like to do this again one day.