I usually prefer comedies to dramas when it comes to opera. The standard mass suicides at the end tend to leave me a little unsettled. But no comedy could compare to the tragedy of the Opera Company of Philadelphia's east coast premiere of Cyrano. Never have I been so moved by an opera. I sat riveted, and cried silently.
Cyrano is the quintessential French hero - full of wit and bravado, but sadly lacking in looks. His generously propotioned schnoz undermines his confidence in pursuing the woman he loves, his cousin Roxanne. Roxanne admires Cyrano's cleverness, but instead falls for the handsome but stupid Christian from afar. In effort to make Rozanne happy, Cyrano sacrifices his own desires by feeding Christian lines and writing letters to Roxanne for him. Cyrano wants Roxanne to have her ideal man - one with the physique of Christian and the intelligence of Cyrano. In an act of selfless love, he keeps up the charade for years.
Cyrano is a French opera, but the Philadelphia Opera Company (http://www.philadelphiaopera.org/) provides subtitles (purists beware!). Even without the translation, however, the company performs so expressively that the meaning transcends language. Marion Pop wonderfully captures the nuance's of Cyrano's outward confidence and inner insecurity.
I could not recommend Cyrano more highly. If you are going to see just one opera in your life, this should be it. Just make sure you bring tissues.
