Ian Colburn

16 April 2016
Menotti Operas
The Medium/ The old maid and the thief
Before this performance, I had never attended an opera of any kind. I have attended a few
plays but those are very different so I was unsure what to expect. However I can say that I did
enjoy my experience at the opera. There were two performances that night, both of Menotti
operas and both of them were very interesting and fun.
The first performance was of and opera known as The Medium. The plot revolves around
a fraudulent medium named Madame Flora, Her daughter Monica, and the mute assistant she
took in from the streets named Toby. When Madam Flora feels someone touch her during a fake
seance, she becomes incredibly paranoid and suspicious of Toby. As the opera continues, she
grows more aggressive towards him until the end of the performance where, in a drunken, fear
fueled rage, she shoots Toby. The opera was performed very well and the music was very fitting
to the scene that it accompanied. All in all it was a good performance and a very thoughtful
piece.
The second performance was a more comical one, of an opera known as The old maid
and the Thief. The plot revolved around an old woman and her maid who decide to house a
handsome beggar in the hopes of romancing him. However, due to reports of a thief in town who
matches the beggars description, they believe that they are harboring a thief and they must find a
way to get rid of him. As the opera progresses, they forget about getting rid of him and the old
woman continues to try and romance him by stealing and committing crimes until it is revealed
that the man isnt a thief at all, and the play ends with the beggar running away with the maid.
This was another well put together performance, and while this one was more comical, it was far
more lighthearted and fun. The singing was a bit more vibrant as well.

Ian Colburn
16 April 2016
I really enjoyed both of these performances and found both the acting and music to be
great. I enjoyed Menottis music and would easily go to another of his operas again.