Jeremy and I went to see Giulio Cesare, an opera about the first meeting between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. As a side note, this is definitely not an opera for beginners. Act I and Act II are extremely slow, as in the Handel/Baroque tradition. I have to say that we both snoozed a bit. However, Act III was perkier and cheesier. Cleopatra's last aria is something to truly admire and appreciate. Ruth Ann Swenson did a fantastic job.
Anyway, after each aria, a man behind me would constantly yell, "BRAVO!" over and over. Meanwhile, a guy in front of me would yell back at him, "BravA!!"
It is tradition to say "Bravo" to cheer for a male performer. You ought to use "Brava" for women and "Bravi" for more than one performer.
However, what is correct when it is a woman singing a man's part, as in the Met's Giulio Cesare?
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tuesday, 24 april, 2007 08:45 MAT
i think the shouting ovation recognises the performer and not the character the performer portrays. therefore use the cheer appropriate to the gender of the performer. using this logic, the answer to your question would be "Brava", since you state that it is a female performer singing a part that is a male character.
how does that sound ?
,` )
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