I'm not a huge fan of opera. In fact, strike that, I'm not an opera fan at all, who am I kidding? That's not to say that there's anything wrong with opera or with people who enjoy it. I'm just die hard rock 'n' roll, which has evolved from the 1960s and now includes all sorts of musical classes. When my husband told me that our season tickets for Mondavi included Linda Ronstadt, I was intrigued.
Let me be clear, it wasn't opera. But one of the things I don't like about opera is it's typically performed in another language, so unless I know the story very well, I don't know what's going on.
Now, imagine you are sitting in the audience at the Mondavi Center in Davis, California (about a 15-minute drive from Sacramento), and 10 Mariachis storm the stage -- five violinists, two horns, a harp player, bassist and a guy on rhythm guitar. The only time I hear Mariachi music is when I'm in Mexico drinking margaritas, and suddenly I had a craving for chips and salsa, and the music made me feel like I should be dancing in the aisles. But nobody was dancing in the aisles.
With the exception of a few sentences in English, the entertainers spoke in Spanish. All the songs were in Spanish. I wish I knew more Spanish, but my vocabulary is limited to finding the bathroom and ordering a glass of wine.
I half wished for closed captioning.
There was no Long, Long, Time or Different Drum or even Blue Bayou. But I expected that. It was interesting because the music evoked emotion: longing, suffering, joy and love; at least I think it did since I didn't understand any of it. My husband said Ronstadt couldn't hit all the notes and was off key at times, but I didn't notice it.
Ronstadt wore a jacket that was U.S. Air Force meets motorcycle gang, sporting a colorful illustration on the back, paired with a mid-calf cotton pleated skirt and flats. She still has her trademark bangs, but her hair was shorter, a blunt cut at chin level. I guessed she was 61, my husband thought 66, but she's actually 62. I looked it up this morning. Born July 15, 1946.
The parking lot was jammed upon leaving. We were driving toward the back exit, which is the long way around Mondavi. We drove past cones that lead to the front entrance. A few cars were in that aisle. "You could drive past the cones and go out that way," I mentioned, as my husband followed the other cars to the alternate exit. Do you want to drive? Do you want to drive? Do you want to drive? My husband was clearly agitated. "Oh, I'm afraid of the little cones," I giggled. He slammed on the brakes and then continued to drive. He has no sense of humor in these situations.
While I enjoyed the show, I now know how non-English speaking visitors to our country might feel at an English-speaking concert. Except typically those guests can speak two languages, and I can speak only one; it's an inadequate feeling.
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The Short Sale, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming from Archer Ellison in January 2009.
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Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
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Wow, sounds like you had a very interesting evening... :-)
Hi C: Ronstadt has such a lovely voice and can really belt it out. Did you know she lives in San Francisco? She made a comment that it was nice to play Mondavi because she can sleep in her own bed.
Next we're going to see Mavis Staples. She's 69 and still touring. Have you ever seen her live?
Hi Elizabeth ... sounds like my husband. Must have been interesting to hear Ronstadt do opera. I usually cannot understand what they are singing regardless of the language. I think the trick is to have margaritas before the opera :)
Hi Marie: Ha, ha, I think many husbands are the same way; it's classic (and I hate to say, amusing). However, please realize that I was comparing opera (because it's typically sung in Italian) to Spanish ballads, not that Rondstadt sang opera. She sang Mexican Mariachi. :)
I'm with Carolyn... it sounds like an interesting night. I'm LMAO at the little cones comment! :)
Hi Jesse: Yes, I chuckled all the way home about that. :) But sometimes the rules don't apply to you, you know. I was complaining that I was too far back from the stage to take any photos. My husband said, "You aren't allowed to take photos." Yeah, right. Like, what are they going to do? Kick me out of Mondavi? I don't think so. What they would say is, "Ma'am, will you please put away your camera -- you can't take photos in here." And I would apologize and put it in my bag.
Okay ... I was trying to imagine an opera with a stage full of Mariachis, and I've only been to Italian operas but you're from the other coast so .... LOL I read it twice no less. Anyway, I have heard her sing Spanish ballads ... okay ...so I'm back on track. You would think I had the margaritas! At least I got the husband thing tight ....
Hi Marie: I'm from the other coast? Bwahahahhaha. Yup, Sacramento, home of the Mexican Mariachi operas. :)
Elizabeth, Ronstadt and Opera. Somehow those two in my mind don't go together, though I can appreciate your take on the language barrier with the Spanish making it even more difficult to appreciate. You are a trooper for trying though.
Now I will never be able to think of Sacramento in any other context!
Elizabeth: Was this Spanish aspect of the concert a surprise? Seems like it might have been. I know I would've felt out of place too.
There was no opera, Gary. How did I confuse you guys?
LOL, Marie.
Hi Chris Ann: I knew she was going to sing some songs in Spanish but I didn't think the entire concert would be in Spanish. I guess I don't know what I expected. It was on my calendar, so I went. :)
Elizabeth- Sounds like an interesting evening out. I like the fact that you share with us your experiences when you go out to see music. Music is so powerful. I'm not sure how I would of held up but you know it would of been good to experience....
Best,
Scott
HI Scott: I think music makes the world go round.
I never tire of going to concerts, providing I can find a comfortable seat, it's near the front of the stage, hahhahhahaha. You can see this is my age speaking.
Hi Elizabeth,
I used to LOVE Linda Ronstadt in the 70's. You're No Good, Blue Bayou, what a beautiful voice she had. I hadn't heard anything about her in many years, except that she was doing Spanish music. If I would have went I probably would have been like you, enjoyed it, but would have really like to hear something I can understand, and hear her sing Blue Bayou!
My husband has used that same line too, in fact even tonight! He's even pulled over so I can drive! Why do we put up with that?
Hope you had a good evening ignoring Halloween!
Linda
Elizabeth...nice to know she's still performing....I would have wanted to hear "Blue Bayou". You two obviously have a life....good for you!
Hi Linda: Your husband, too? I think the point is we don't put up with that. But at the same time, we let them know those outrageous little outbursts are silly. They get over it. So we do, too. You don't change people or husbands or wives, but you can change how you react to absurdness.
Hi Jeanean: I imagine that Ronstadt will reinvent herself over the next few years and do something else totally different.
Was she singing songs from her Canciones De Mi Padre? In recent years she explored her latina heritage and has done some really beautiful rancheras, and her Tu Solo Tu (You only you) is one of my favorites. The emotions you describe experiencing are typically what the songs do evoke. Sounds to me like you got it, english or not, words or not! Appreciated your thoughts on resonating how others who might feel at an englsh speaking event.
Why is it everytime I think of Linda Ronstadt, I think of Jerry Brown :-)
Hello Alexsandra: Yes, that was it. It was billed as: Linda Ronstadt & Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Canciones de Mi Padre Viaje / Songs of My Father.
Hello Myrl: At the time I thought it was a strange union but today, not so much. :)
Elizabeth -- way cool. thanks for letting me know!