I was lucky enough to be able to see a show at the Sydney Opera House this past weekend. It was my family friend’s 30th wedding anniversary and they invited me along with their two grown kids and their family to go see an afternoon show and have dinner down by the harbour. The Australian summer is on in full swing with humidity and everywhere outside people were out and about with drinks and ice creams in hand.
What a beauty on a summer evening
The Opera House is a structural feat. Amazing, but construction began in 1958 and was finally finished in 1973. The pronounced shell-like roof of this building that is one of Sydney's most famous landmarks was inspired oddly enough by simple orange peels. Who would have thought?! Inside the house, there are several halls with flights of stairs going to different levels.
Inside the Opera House
The show we saw was called Bale De Rua and was a performance that told of the history of the Brazilian Africans. I didn't know, but they were sold as slaves by the Portuguese since 1532 to help Brazil develop their sugar cane plantations. Many millions of people were imported into Brazil and when slavery was finally abolished in 1888, these individuals were left with nothing. Bale De Rua is a show about the resilience of these people and the strength they had to survive throughout their history of slavery and the life after. Brazilian street dancing is a way for many of them to express their feelings and is a mixture of Capoeira, a form of combat with movements of kicks, slaps and leg sweeps set to music as well as hip hop and break dance. This performance was an eye opener for me as I had never been exposed to Brazilian dance and music. I was amazed to see some of the moves that were done. The dancing was so fluid and in rhythm with the music. Add lighting and various props and you have a show that intrigued with its story and excited with its dancing. The performers really got everyone involved in the show with clapping and at the very end, people even were dancing!
View from where I sat.
All the seats were full by the time the show started!
Great show!
I came out of the hall feeling exhilarated and want to try some of that capoeira now! We walked off some of that energy along the harbour down to dinner at the Italian Village. It was a quaint restaurant with a great view of the harbour. So many choices on the menu, but I ended up ordering the Polpettine fettuccine with truffle oil, veal meat balls, baby spinach and parmesan. Truffle oil is so good that I was curious as to what it would taste like in pasta and veal meatballs is not something you have every day either. The pasta was cooked al dente with just a hint of the truffle oil in the marinara sauce. I wished there would have been a little more of it as well as a little more spinach, but the veal meatballs were quite nice along with the shaved parmesean on top. To accompany my meal, I enjoyed a nice glass of sauvignon blanc that was light and fruity.
Polpettine fettuccine with truffle oil, veal meat balls, baby spinach & parmesan
The Ramsey Family
Bob and Sharon in the middle with their two kids and their families
The 30th anniversary was a special occasion and I was thankful to have been able to celebrate it with my friends as they enjoyed with their family. To many more years, Cheers!
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