Comic Opera Monsters and Prodigies: A History of the Castrati
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Novellus Theater (700 Howard St. San Francisco, CA 94103)
- Full Price:
- $30.00
- Our Price:
- $15.00*
In the 18th century, the castrati were "sacred monsters" whose voices were surgically molded, represented a peak of artistry. Monsters and Prodigies is a humorous opera about this fascinating cultural phenomenon: talented child singers born in poverty who were castrated to preserve their soprano voices, and propelled to stardom in the frivolous courts of Europe.
* Additional fees apply.
All offers for Monsters and Prodigies: A History of the Castrati have expired.
The last date listed for Monsters and Prodigies: A History of the Castrati was Saturday February 7, 2009 / 8:00pm.
700 Howard St.
San Francisco,
CA
94103
415-978-ARTS (2787)
Goldstar Member Tips
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Goldstar Member on What to Wear
Casual
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Goldstar Member on Where to Eat
Out the Door in Westfield Center has yummy Vietnamese food.
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Goldstar Member on Where to Park
Take Muni to the Montgomery station and exit at the Outbound end of the station.
15 Goldstar Member Reviews
bikerhiker
An extremely intriguing performance. Very informative. Go to it ready to see something very European and a bit edgy. I did not understand all the symbolism, but much if it I got. I actually learned a lot. See it as a wild lecture on an interesting bit of history.Written on Feb 06 2009
By the way, the reviewer who talks about the person who yelled and got up and left...That was an actor, Silly! That was all part of the act. Wow. No wonder she didn't like the evening!
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Carolyn T.
Cracks me up that "Susan" didn't get that the woman screaming from the audience was PART OF THE SHOW.Written on Feb 06 2009
This was one of the most entertaining, exuberant theater productions I have seen in San Francisco in YEARS. I have recommended it to a number of people. I laughed and was in awe through for the first 98% of what I experienced and then was brought heart-wrenchingly to tears at the very end. No play, concert, or performance art has given me such a breadth of experience and emotion. Seriously - I was crying and for the first time, actually went to the manager of the programs to thank her for bringing such work to San Francisco.
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Lanny
Given the riches of Spanish-language theatre, we are very rarely treated to a production in Spanish, and for that alone I was grateful. And given, I suppose, that the cultural pheonomenon of the castrati is almost incomprehensible to our modern sensibilities, it seems fitting that the absurdist approach to the subject matter, almost incomprehsible in itself, was appropriate to the subject. The style of J. Kuri's script resembled nothing so much as the great Latin-American abusrdist Copi, and the style of C. Kuri's direction veered dangerously towards chaos, but kudos must be given to the admirable cast of 7 for their tour-de-force performances. Ultimately, the experience left me exhausted and confused, but entertained? Oh yes, there is no doubt that I was entertained.Written on Feb 09 2009
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Susan
Loud, someone even got up and yelled at the actors about how bad they were and walked out. Poor presentation of what could have been an interesting subject. Best part was the recording of the last castrati from about 1918 (at the end). Most of the rest I could have skipped. Singing was fair--not up to stage ready. Some funny moments.Written on Feb 06 2009
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More Information About Monsters and Prodigies: A History of the Castrati
Website
http://www.ybca.org/tickets/production/view.aspx?id=5059
Description
Directed by Claudio Valdés Kuri and written by Jorge Kuri for Mexico City’s internationally acclaimed Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes, Monsters is theatrical opera with mass-audience appeal—a colorful and often humorous three-century journey from the decadent extremes of the Baroque period to the technological 20th century, where beauty has been annihilated by reason. With a “precise and wild gaze,” Ciertos Habitantes infuses life into one of the most sublime mysteries in history.