Day 54: Potluck and La Traviata

Today, although a sad one, was one all of us had looked forward to for the past couple of weeks. Although we dreaded this trip of a lifetime concluding, we were all homesick, and not ashamed to admit it. There's just something about being away from loved ones and the comfort of home that no paradise can replace. We met at noon at the botanical gardens with food in hand for a group potluck. We shared stories and reminisced on the past two months, soaking in all the memories we had made and shared. Some of the stories included Anoop's dozing driving habits, Michael's failed attempt of bungee jumping, Cannon's horse riding spill, Cannon also getting left behind on our train ride for The Blue Mountains, Dalton's failed attempt of jumping onto a pole at the Olympic Park, and many, many more. We thanked our professors and the group parted ways. Us students took one last picture with the Opera House and Sydney Bridge in the background, and we returned to our apartment to pack and prepare for our last hoorah: an opera in The Opera House. How suiting. Jack, Dalton, and I departed for the Opera House and soon after picked up our tickets for La Traviata, one of the most popular operas in today's culture. Having never heard of the act before, I was thrilled to learn more about it, and how it has since influenced the opera culture drastically since it's first performance in 1853.

The act was incredible: a whole 2:45 long with two 20 minute intermissions and one short scene change. Each scene brought the audience into the setting, and the actors/actresses brought the story to life with incredible vigor and passion. The Opera Australia Orchestra played the most beautiful music my ears have heard in person, and the raw emotion on stage was simply beautiful. This was my first opera, and I imagine it will be a hard one to beat... The story of La Traviata is about a mistress, Violetta, who has been unwell with tuberculosis. When she recovers, her friends throw a party at her lavish apartment in Paris, where a large crowd attends. Of the many visitors, Alfredo is present, who has had a year-long crush on Violetta. Alfredo eventually confesses his love for Violetta,and how much he cares for her and her well-being. Violetta has never had love, and she resents the idea of being tied down. Alfredo and alcohol seem to have an affect on her, and Violetta eventually kisses Alfredo briefly before he departs - promising to see one another again soon. The scene breaks and Alfredo and Violetta are in a country-side estate, where there new-found love has blossomed into a scandalous relationship (not married). Violetta has secretly sold everything and left Paris to afford their relaxed lifestyle, and Alfredo soon finds out and journey's to Paris to make money to compensate. While gone, Alfredo's father appears and pleads with Violetta to leave his son; as the scandalous affair has tarnished the family name and is preventing his youngest daughter from marrying the man of her dreams. Violetta concedes, and tells Alfredo she doesn't love him anymore. They part ways, and the scene ends.

The next set is of Violetta in Paris at a party she was invited to. Little does she know, Alfredo was also invited, and things go south very quickly. Alfredo bashes her in front of the entire room, and physically assaults her. The crowd of people are offended, and order Alfredo to leave immediately. The scene ends, and the last scene of the play is of Violetta in her apartment, now barren of all belongings except a chair in the middle of the room. Her tuberculosis has returned much worse, and her doctor tells her she only has days, maybe hours to live. Alfredo and Violetta have since written to one another, and the truth about Alfredo's father condemning their relationship surfaces. Alfredo vows to return for her, but she fears he will be too late. As the situation grows grim, Alfredo appears at last and they are at last reunited. They know the moments they have together are limited, and they cry out at the unfair reality of her short time to live. Violetta suddenly feels alive and well, only to drop dead in Alfredo's arms seconds later. The scene ends, and the crowd erupted with applause for longer than I have ever experienced. My arms grew sore and eventually raw, and their performance deserved every clap. As the crowd grew silent and the drapes closed for the final time, the reality of our trip's closing came to a quick reality, and we walked back to our apartment. Our minds were enriched with a new cultural experience, and this opera in the most famous building for opera could not have been better icing for the Australia cake.