723 Panic of the Night Watchers (2/2)
”She probably doesn't like so many people. I remember that she's very interested in music and opera,” Natasha speculated.
Lucien nodded and did not say anything. Russell, the Prime Minister of Holm, already began to give his speech and announced the opening of the music festival.
...
”Prime minister! This is the first time I've seen the prime minister!” Banus shouted in joy and surprise.
Ali pulled and hushed him. ”Watch your manners, or you will be scolded by the police. If it were before, disrespecting the nobles is punishable by lashes.”
”I know, I know. But look at them. They're just like me. If the policemen scold each and every one of us, their throat will definitely be broken.” Banus was obviously excited.
After Russell's announcement, the final preparations were conducted behind the curtain.
During the brief moment before the opera began, the sorcerer who was responsible for the broadcast adjusted the camera so that the audience could see the full picture of the theater.
”This is spectacular. If I could listen to the best opera once in such a theater, I would die without regrets!” Banus and the other members of the audience complimented.
Soon, the attention was shifted from the building to the nobles on the picture, and they heard Louise's sweet introduction. ”This is Lord James, Duke of Paphos, and this is his wife, Lady Stephine…”
”Oh!”
Exclamations echoed on the square like a tide.
”So, that's what a major noble is like. His wife and daughters are very beautiful too…” Ali complimented softly with obscure passion in his eyes. She mentioned that she would come to the opening ceremony…
His description was not exactly the reality, but it was undeniable that thanks to the succession of active blood power, the ratio of good-looking nobles was much higher than that of ordinary people.
When Ali examined the noble ladies, the picture was changed again and aimed at the box.
”Here are Her Majesty Queen Natasha, 'Atom Controller' Evans—” Louise's introduction suddenly stopped, because she saw the same scene that Banus and the audience saw. Inside the box was the silver sword that cut the environment, the boundless and colorful universe, the surging thunderstorm, and the doomsday view where stars were collapsing…
”What… What is that?” It seemed that Ali could not cure his stammer today.
After a brief pause, Louise spoke again unhurriedly, ”The vibe of the legendary experts can influence the world around them. Therefore, unless they repress it on purpose, this will be what the camera can record. However, things will be different if you look at them with the naked eye…”
”Marvelous. As expected of the legendary experts!”
”This is truly an incredible view…”
It left a deep impression on Banus and the other audience.
The brief preparation was soon over, and the prelude began. Gloom and intensity were hidden below the jolly and easy melody on the surface, foreshadowing the plot of the opera and making everyone emotionally prepared.
”Replacing overture with prelude is a popular way to create operas recently. It can be used before every act of the opera and directly followed by the songs…” Ali spoke of the knowledge he learned from his pen pal.
Inside the theater, nobody talked anymore. They appreciated the opera in silence.
When the prelude was about to be over, the curtain was raised, and a female voice gave a soliloquy in recitative. Then, a girl who was tall but showed no sign of strength ascended the stage.
”Is she the Valkyrie?”
The audience felt that it did not quite agree with the theme. The story was not exactly what they had in mind either. In the merry and pleasant melodies, Princess Amansa and the king, the queen, the maids, and the governess had a wonderful life.
However, the good days didn't last. The king's nephew conspired with the prime minister and the chief of guards and murdered the king and the queen in a scheme. The queen only managed to escape to a forest under her maids' help.
The gloom and intensity that were hidden under the beautiful melody burst out. The attention of the audience was immediately grasped as they worried about the princess' safety and loathed the villains.
When the first act was over, during the intermezzo, Oliver looked at Lucien in surprise. ”Is this an opera? Right, I admit that it is an excellent opera, but where are the numbers? Why do I feel that it's more like a symphony?”
Until then, the operas in Rentato had been divided into numbers. A series of numbers, including solo, duo, trio, quartet, and chorus, would constitute an opera. To put it more simply, music and singing were the main points, and the plot was at their service.
Lucien's opera, in comparison, was more like a play. The music was at the service of the plot, and there were no distinctive numbers. Every act was a whole by itself, like a themed symphony.