The loudest ovation went to the faintly sulfurous, aptly named Funky Green Imposter.
— From Opera to Sniff at: A Score Offers Uncommon Scents at the New York Times, a review of Christophe Laudamiel’s Green Aria ScentOpera.
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Though I wasn’t able to attend (had to switch my trip up at the last minute) I was glad to see this getting a fairly respectful review. So often coverage of anything to do with smell is so rife with bad puns it sounds like sixth grade boys wrote the copy. Although, I must say, the names of the “characters” kind of invite that response. I think they need a librettist. I’ll be submitting my resume in the morning…
I’ll be rooting for you!
Thanks for posting the NYT review. I would love to experience something like that. I’m surprised it was only 30 minutes long — though I can’t imagine olfactory fatigue not setting in.
My favorite line: “Typically, the only time scent becomes an element of an operatic experience is when someone in the next seat is doused with too much cologne.”
Pardon me! That’s not cologne, that’s Fracas!
LOL! Well at least they blamed the gentlemen…
Joe, I wondered about olfactory fatigue…30 minutes seems like a long time, in that sense.
I pictured people sitting there with those little coffee bean containers they have at perfume counters.
Probably not, though.
HA!
I had the good fortune of getting tickets to the Scent Opera last night. It was a very unique experience. The melding of the music and the scents was artfully done, with one enhancing the other. There was an introductory discussion with the creators, followed by 30 minutes of music matched to scents. Most were pleasant green scents, but some were quite pungent and I found myself holding my breath through them (You could tell which scent was being presented by its accompanying music). When we left, Scented Playbills were distributed. A great souvenir, which included scent strips of four of the characters – Earth, Shiny Steel, Evangelical Green, and Shimmering Green. The show was followed by a reception in the Rotunda, attended by many familiar fragrance industry faces, as well as museum members. A worthwhile experience for the fragrance enthusiast.
Sounds wonderful!