Salzburg Easter Festival: Carmen Premiere

Being in Salzburg always gives me a homely feeling. Not least because a part of my family is living here. This time is absolutely different to all the other moments I spent over here: I'm able to attend the Salzburg Easter Festival, an annual festival of opera and classical music. Founded in 1967 by Herbert von Karajan, the festival is an expansion of the summer event and attracts people from all over the world. 

As this was my very first time to see and opera, I was quite excited not knowing what I shall expect and what will happen. But the moment, I entered the building, the Großes Festspielhaus, I was already in the ban of another sphere I just rarely enter. A wild mixture of people mingling together all waiting for the opera to begin were standing around. From breathtakingly beautiful to more questionable ball gowns (why do some people think that wearing a very short dress would be appropriate for an opera premiere!? style is something you just can't buy) - I saw them all. My awareness and knowledge of bad plastic surgery extended to a completely new level and so did my cultural education. 

Carmen, composed by Georges Bizet, was perfectly put in scene. Although I don't have any similar comparison to what I was able to see and hear yesterday, I just can't say anything else than share my pure fascination of it. When the first of four acts began, I felt goose humps and the way women were slowly but surely emancipating and emerging out of the slow shift to realism was amazingly brought to life. Strong, bold and with pure self-confidence Carmen was having her debut at the Easter Festivals. As I was reading some background of Bizet's opera, I was slightly surprised of how Carmen's character was presenting a fake redheaded women with a certain power, a strong voice but meanwhile no real sexiness. Maybe I was just thinking about something utopian but I associated a stereotypical Spanish full woman with wild, dark hair and nothing to hide. More passion, more temper - someone like Anna Netrebko would have perfectly fit to this role. I wonder why they didn't choose her. With a little more tackiness, Netrebko would have been the first person could think of when searching for a substitute of Madgdalena Kozena. However, Kozena, who's also the wife of Art Director Sir Simon Rattle (who did an amazing job!) played quite fair and had an unmistakably beautiful voice. So, nothing seriously to complain about. 

After three hours of sitting in the second row, we were moving from Carmen to some late night dinner at Hotel Sacher, located on the other side of the Salzach river. 

Being famous for its Austrian cuisine, I enjoyed some of my favourite dishes and had some interesting, enriching talks. Some of the rare moments, when I stop thinking about everything else happening around me and simply reflect. 

For this occasion, I chose something elegant. This dress is an alltime-stunner, which is never wrong and will surely accompany me for a long time. Once possessed by my mum, it was passed on to me and as I don't have any siblings, I still need to get that feeling of second-hand within the family ;). The earrings build some contrast and together with one of my favourite bracelets, make a statement to the rather low keyed and clearly cut dress. The shoes are plain, classic and high enough to make a small girl see a little more than usual. They just see the streets and floors for special events as I don't have the patience to watch after them for some party nights.

Dress: Gucci

Earrings: Mytho

Bracelet: Lua 

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

End of Carmen

Hotel Sacher