Saturday, March 21, 2009

I Want Natalie Dessay's Shoes


We just saw the live Met HD broadcast of Bellini's La Sonnambula at the Savoy 16. The music was beautiful although Peter felt formulaic, which is not a compliment from a composer. The performances were wonderful. The production was somewhat confusing with the opera within an opera device since the audience was never sure when they were in the rehearsal or the opera so much of the possible irony was lost. Still, it made for an enjoyable afternoon, especially as neither of us had seen the opera before. But, and this is a big but, the costume designer left me lusting for a pair of shoes.

The picture accompanying the blog does not do justice to the wonderful green high heels that Natalie Dessay wore all too briefly in the first part of the opera. It is too small since it is a small portion of a larger photo. I couldn't find one with the wonderful detail hidden by the long pants that Dessay was wearing while she danced. So you may be skeptical. But make no mistake, these shoes were wonderful. I speak as one who has not worn high heels since I was in my thirties and I am now 57. I doubt that I will ever wear them again. However, if these shoes, or their close facsmile came my way, and I could afford them, I would make the effort to wear them. After all, a trip to Krannert, which would mean minimal walking, would not be out of the question. Perhaps we might (this is pure fantasy) be asked to a fancy party that wasn't a fundraiser and again I could wear the shoes and just sit all evening. Of course we don't get asked out and we don't really have friends who have parties where I would get to wear those shoes. Of course I would need new clothes to do justice to the shoes, with new accessories as well. Good thing shoes like that and the occasions to go with them are unlikely to come my way.

Sad to come home from the opera not humming memorable arias or talking about the wonderful performances or still ranting about the staging but merely dreaming about a pair of wonderful green high-heeled shoes.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:02 PM

    They were lovely weren't they! I am 99% certain that they were made by John Fluevog, although I couldn't find that particular pair on their website. They are either old or custom made.

    I was too lost in the most incredible singing by Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez (ooh my heart is still a flutter) to be confused by the production.

    Oh, I found your blog when I googled Natalie Dessay's shoes!!

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  2. Shoes like that would probably never been found in Champaign-Urbana. Lucky for me! I agree that the performances trumped the production. I left happy and looking forward to hearing both Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez again soon, together and separately.

    Interesting how you found my blog. Thanks.

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  3. Your blog was the first entry about Natalie Dessay's shoes. I can't believe that a random search turned up so many other shoe cravers! I also want the red ones she just tried on for one second -- ooh la la.

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  4. Someone could make a fortune selling copies of the shoes from the production. Shoe manufacturers should take note. By the way, green is my favorite color, so those shoes immediately distracted my attention.

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  5. I googledfor Natalie Dessay's shoes and voila! your blog. I also want them and I also think they are Fluevogs. I'm searching for them now on various web spots. I'll be shopping for them at the downtown Eugene shoe store tomorrow.

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  6. Good luck. Let us know if you find them.

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