Winter Olympics 2026 opening ceremony review – disco-dancing opera masters upstage Mariah Carey

The Winter Olympics' grand entrance was marked by an unorthodox yet captivating spectacle. Unlike previous ceremonies, this one defied the expectation of glamour with a focus on artistry and historical references. The event's creative lead, Marco Balich, had foreseen a ceremony that would eschew "tech and bling," instead opting for timeless opera and classical music.

Upon witnessing Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang perform alongside other renowned artists, it became apparent that this was no ordinary ceremony. References to Roman mythology and 18th-century opera flooded the proceedings, accompanied by stunning visuals of giant-headed effigies dancing to the likes of Righeira's 'Vamos a la playa' and Raffaella Carrà's 'Do It Do It Again.'

However, one might find it disorienting at first, but the BBC commentary team seamlessly guided viewers through the musical extravaganza. Notable moments, such as Mariah Carey's reading of Italy's national anthem, Volare, stood out – although her performance was surprisingly subdued compared to expectations.

The opening ceremony featured an athlete's parade with mixed reactions from the audience and was interwoven with a visual history of Olympic dances in the 1960s and 1970s. Pop-dance tunes were used to animate giant-headed effigies of opera composers, blending seemingly disparate genres together.

A lesser-known Italian rapper named Ghali briefly appeared on stage, yet his low-key performance failed to deliver an authentic taste of what he might bring to the table.

In contrast to this event, the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 may feature more mainstream entertainment options due to Donald Trump's continued presidency.
 
🤔 I gotta say, that Winter Olympics opening ceremony was pretty wild 🌪️. I mean, who expects opera and classical music at a sports event? It sounds kinda out of left field 🎸. But you know what, it actually worked 🙌! The visuals were insane 💥 and the musical performances were top-notch 🎶. I'm not sure about that lesser-known Italian rapper Ghali though... felt like he was just there for a paycheck 💸.

But let's talk about the bigger picture 📺. With Trump still in office, it's interesting to see how the LA Olympics might play out 🤔. Mainstream entertainment options could be a hit or miss 🎪. Either way, I'm curious to see how they'll balance sports and spectacle 🔥. And hey, at least we got a unique opening ceremony out of it 😊!
 
Wow 🤩 Those giant-headed effigies dancing to old-school tunes were straight fire 🔥🎶 I love how Marco Balich mixed history with modern music - it was like a time machine for my eyes! Interesting how the BBC commentary team kept everything on track, too easy to get lost in all that artistry 😂 And yeah, Ghali's appearance felt a bit tacked on 🤷‍♂️
 
the winter olympics' grand entrance was definitely a breath of fresh air 🌟🎶 - no flashy tech or over-the-top spectacle here! instead, we got a beautiful blend of artistry, historical references, and timeless music that really added to the ceremony's charm 🙌. and let's be real, who doesn't love opera and classical music? it was like stepping into another era... but what did strike me as a bit odd was ghali's lackluster performance - i mean, if he's gonna make an appearance, bring the heat! 🤔 meanwhile, the los angeles olympics in 2028 might be a different story altogether - with trump at the helm, it's hard to imagine what kind of vibe they'll go for... fingers crossed for some more creativity and originality? 😬
 
omg u guys i just watched the winter olympics opening ceremony and tbh it was kinda confusing lol like they wanted us to think its all about artistry but then mariah carey sings italian national anthem and idk wut 2 make of it 🤷‍♀️

i'm glad ghali got a chance 2 perform tho, even if his rap didn't blow me away 🎶 but u know who's gonna bring the heat in 2028? mainstream entertainment for sure, gotta see how trump's presidency affects all that 🤑
 
man i'm loving how the Winter Olympics just went all out with that artsy vibe 🤩 and the way they merged ancient mythology with modern pop tunes is pure genius... I mean, who needs fancy tech when you can have a historical opera performance right? 😎 but what's weird is that Ghali's rap interlude was kinda underwhelming - i get it's not everyone's cup of tea, but still 🤔 and I'm also kinda stoked about Mariah Carey's subdued rendition of Italy's national anthem... Volare is just too iconic to be tamed 😎 and can't wait to see what LA 2028 brings - hopefully they stick with the creative direction they had here 👀
 
omg, i'm still reeling from the winter olympics opening ceremony 🤯🎭 it was so weird and wonderful at the same time 😂🕺 mariah carey reading "volare" was lowkey amazing 🙌 but what really got me was the mix of old and new 🎶💻 trying to blend 18th century opera with pop dance tunes was pure genius 🔥 even if ghali's rap didn't quite hit the mark 🤔 i'm more hyped for the los angeles olympics in 2028 🌴🏊‍♀️ but let's be real, who knows what kind of vibes they'll bring 😎
 
The Winter Olympics opening ceremony was a real mixed bag 🤔🏅. On one hand, I loved how they ditched the usual glamour and went for something different – it added a unique flavor to the whole event! The artistry and historical references were really well executed, especially with that epic visual history of Olympic dances in the 60s & 70s 🕺🏻.

I'm also glad they showcased some amazing Italian talent like Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang – their performances absolutely lit 🔥! However, I was a bit confused by the inclusion of Ghali – I mean, I love him as an artist, but that brief appearance on stage felt kinda out of place 🤷‍♂️.

What's really interesting is how this ceremony might set the tone for future Olympics events. I think it's awesome that the organizers are taking more risks and pushing boundaries in their creative choices 💡. And hey, who knows, maybe LA 2028 will be even more innovative with some mainstream entertainment options 🎉?
 
🤔 I gotta say, that Winter Olympics opening ceremony was like a visual art piece come to life! Marco Balich really knew how to mix and match historical references with modern pop tunes to create this mesmerizing experience 🎨💥 The way they used giant-headed effigies dancing to classic opera tracks was straight fire 🔥

But what I loved most about the ceremony was the commentary team – they totally helped bridge the gap between the artistic performances and the ancient Roman mythology vibes 😊 Plus, Mariah Carey's subdued national anthem performance surprised me, but in a good way 🙏

Now, about that Los Angeles Olympics... I heard rumors about some major changes to the entertainment lineup 🤔 Considering Donald Trump's presidency is still going strong, it might be interesting to see how mainstream they go with their performances 🎭👀
 
I gotta say, that Winter Olympics ceremony was straight fire 💥! I mean, who needs all that tech and glamour when you can go old-school with some epic opera performances? Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang totally brought the house down 🏠🎶. And those visuals? Mind-blowing! Giant-headed effigies dancing to pop tunes? Genius 💡. But, I gotta say, Ghali's rap performance was kinda meh 😐. Maybe next time he can bring his A-game? On a more serious note, it's cool that they kept things simple and focused on artistry, rather than trying to outdo everyone with flashy tech 📊. Can't wait for the LA Olympics in 2028 to see what kind of vibes they'll bring 💃🏽!
 
🤔 The Winter Olympics' opening ceremony was definitely a departure from the usual glamour and tech fest we've come to expect! I loved how they incorporated opera, classical music, and even some Italian pop into the mix - it added such a unique touch to the proceedings 🎶. But can't help but feel that Ghali's performance was kinda meh... hope he gets another shot at it 🤷‍♂️. And omg, Mariah Carey's Volare performance? 😍 That was actually really cool! As for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, I'm not sure what to make of it yet... Trump's presidency is definitely gonna influence the vibe of that one 💔.
 
The Winter Olympics' grand entrance was soooo different from what I'm used to! 🤯 I mean, who would've thought opera and classical music would be the stars of the show instead of all that flashy tech stuff? 😂 It actually worked really well tho, it felt like a cool art piece more than just a ceremony. And I loved how they mixed in some fun Italian vibes with those giant-headed effigies dancing to 'Vamos a la playa' 🕺🏻 - hilarious! But yeah, I'm a bit worried about what's gonna happen with the LA Olympics next year... if Trump's still around, it's gonna be a whole different ball game 🤔
 
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