14 Ways Opera is like Arrested Development
by San Francisco Opera Staff
Just like the rest of the world, we here at San Francisco Opera are anxiously awaiting the return of "Arrested Development" on Sunday. And so, in honor of this momentous occasion, we looked back at the life and times of the family Bluth and put together 14 ways that opera is like "Arrested Development."
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1) They have forbidden crushes on family member
Sigmund and Sieglinde in our 2010 Die Walkure. Photo by Cory Weaver
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1) They have forbidden crushes on family members
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2) Sometimes circumstances force them to live in the attic.
Marcello, Colline, and Rodolfo in the attic in our 2008 production of La Boheme.
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2) Sometimes circumstances force them to live in the attic.
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3) They have unfortunate run-ins with marine animals
Captain Ahab in our 2012 productino of Moby-Dick. Photo by Cory Weaver
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3) They have unfortunate run-ins with marine animals
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4) Brothers seem to fall in love with the same girl.
Brothers Manrico and Count di Luna in Il Trovatore. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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4) Brothers seem to fall in love with the same girl.
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5) They storm magic castles.
Parsifal storms Klingsor's magic castle. Photo from our 2000 production.
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5) They storm magic castles.
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6) Faking their own deaths and bribing the police works. Well, sometimes.
Cavaradossi leaves Tosca to engage in his 'fake' execution in our 2012 production of Tosca
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6) Faking their own deaths and bribing the police works. Well, sometimes.
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7) Blue is their color.
The Angel from our 2002 production of Saint Francois d'Assise.
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7) Blue is their color.
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8) They know how to work a set of moveable stairs. And avoid hop-ons.
Nixon arrives in China in our 2012 production Nixon in China. Photo by Cory Weaver
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8) They know how to work a set of moveable stairs. And avoid hop-ons.
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9) They make huge mistakes.
Dr. Caius soon learns he has been tricked into marrying Bardolf
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9) They make huge mistakes.
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10) When they build something, it's solid as a rock.
Fafner and Fasolt build Valhalla in our 2011 production of Das Rheingold.
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10) When they build something, it's solid as a rock.
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11) Some days, they just have Charlie Brown moments.
Director Harry Silverstein and a bird on the set.
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11) Some days, they just have Charlie Brown moments.
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12) Elixirs help get them through the day.
Nemorino receives the elixir of love in our 2008 production of The Elixir of Love.
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12) Elixirs help get them through the day.
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13) In order to get close to what they want, sometimes they have to dress in drag.
Cherubino dresses as a woman to get closer to Countess Almaviva
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13) In order to get close to what they want, sometimes they have to dress in drag.
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14) They put family first.
Romeo goes to war against the entire Capulet clan
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14) They put family first.