In the world of Love Island, Love is Blind and Naked Attraction that we live in today, it is easy to see how everyone is looking for love, or at least a free holiday or meal. We are constantly having commercials pushed at us for perfume that will (apparently) make us irresistible, chewing gum that will make us more attractive and magazines that are covered with what you can do to secure the ‘ultimate goal’: a partner.
In the increasing digitalisation of everyday life this means there are now 1,500 dating apps out there - yep - you read that right 1,500. It can make it seem like it’s all anyone cares about. The question is: how well can you seduce someone through a screen? Where’s the chemistry, the eye contact, the sizzle?
Never fear, Welsh National Opera haven’t forgotten how to seduce in the old-fashioned way; eyes locking over the crowd at a party (Faust), secret rendezvous in the woods (The Marriage of Figaro) and declarations of undying love (all of them.) Although, even we have to admit that some take it too far, for example, Don Giovanni the ultimate player, was reported to have seduced 640 women in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100 in France, 91 in Turkey and in Spain a whopping 1,003. Extortionate? We think so.
The Duke from Rigolettogets through enough girls in the first scene alone, before seducing the innocent Gilda and then consequently, the not so innocent Maddalena. Gilda falls for him so hard she sacrifices her life for him, even though she knows he was unfaithful, his repayment…’women are fickle.’ Charming.
But it’s not just the men who do the wooing, our fiery heroine Carmen picks up and drops lovers at her whim (plot spoiler - doesn’t end well) ‘if you love me - watch out’ she warns. It is widely accepted her affairs never last longer than six months. The main difference between Carmen and all our male seducers are that she breaks things off honestly whereas the men abandon their lovers, in other words ghosting them (the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication, thanks, Dictionary.com.)
The best thing about WNO? We’ll never ghost you.*
*unless we’re doing Macbeth.