The performances, originally captured as live broadcasts in movie theatres worldwide, will begin at 7:30 PM [March 16th] on the company's website.... [T]he videos in the nightly series will be made available for free for 20 hours following the initial stream.The lineup seems designed to welcome opera beginners. It begins with "Carmen," and the next night is "La Bohème."
This is great. I love seeing the silver lining. People are stuck without things to go out and do, but they can watch streamed video, and the public's need for entertainment can be met, and the forced seclusion can be used to build new interest in the best of performance arts.
I remember taking my sons to see "Carmen" when they were very young — the story and the music are so accessible and enjoyable to almost anyone.
(I'm not seeing where you need to click to get to the live stream, but we should be able to find that out by March 16th.)
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75 comments:
Given your love of crappy rock/folk music, I was surprised at your liking for Opera. Personally, I only like about 30 Operas, most by great composers. A friend took me to "Nixon in China" - What torture! So i don't like Opera, I like CERTAIN operas.
I look forward to Rosenkavalier.
"This is great. I love seeing the silver lining. People are stuck without things to go out and do, but they can watch streamed video, and the public's need for entertainment can be met, and the forced seclusion can be used to build new interest in the best of performance arts."
No, this is fantasy. There is no shortage of entertainment via TV and internet. There is already more content than can be consumed, and frankly should be consumed. The people that will watch streamed opera will be a small portion of those that watch live opera.
Not an opera 'beginner' but I still enjoy La Bohème.
Those who have lost their job in the panic can console themselves with streamed opera.
Marie Antoinette understands.
I am Laslo.
"No, this is fantasy. ..."
You are not thinking about the young people who see this seclusion as an opportunity to learn something new, who've thought, I've wondered about opera and I'd like to be the kind of person who can go to the opera. Obviously, this is not 100% of the young people, but I believe there are some who would like to learn to be opera lovers.
There are a number of popular movies where a character moves up a level in the experience of life by going to the opera: "Moonstruck," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Milk"... I think some people are primed to take on opera and to think of it as one of the great highs. And also something that will make them admirable to others.
If you are waiting for March 16th to show your kids "La Boheme," prime them with "A Night at the Opera."
The Met's March 18 show is "Il Trovatore," so if you prepare your kids with "A Night at the Opera," they'll be savvy to some key tunes and perhaps — if they're at all musically inclined — delighted.
Nice riff, Laslo.
Something I commented in an earlier post, but very applicable here:
How many peons are working at risk so that the well-off can cocoon comfortably and watch opera?
How many people were at risk in the production, delivery and sale chain that got that toilet paper to your home?
Take the challenge: go without toilet paper for two weeks to let us know you mean it.
Marie Antoinette understands.
I am Laslo.
If I were keeping seclusion with my kids for a month, you'd better believe there would be high-quality shows on the television and lots of study and discussion.
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, an excellent group, offers free
Concert Videos
I'm annoyed at the Met.
A couple of years ago, I had decided to go take a day trip up there from D.C. to go see Pagliacci and Lucia di Lammermoor. There were some scheduling issues, plus my usual procrastination, so I ended up not going, but with the belief that it would be no loss since they would likely play them both again the following year.
And ... of course the following year came and neither was on the schedule. Same with the next year. And now I see that next year's season once again will have neither one.
Love your clear-headed writing. A meeting to discuss a reduction in global regulatory barriers to vaccine licensure was scheduled for next week. This meeting has been rescheduled for the end of June. Draw your own conclusions regarding what vaccine experts think. I would suggest we should be near normal in June, and ramping up in May. https://www.iabs.org/iabs-eu-conferences/iabs-upcoming-conferences/164-march-16-17-2020-royal-academy-brussels-belgium
There is no shortage of entertainment via TV and internet. There is already more content than can be consumed, and frankly should be consumed.
Then why is it, on this free HBO weekend, I scroll through a 1000 of their movie offerings and was meh for about 995 of them?
Oh, wow! We will definitely be using this. We have taken the kids to one of the Met shows at the movie theater.
Based on my experience, kids like opera well enough.
If you are waiting for March 16th to show your kids "La Boheme," prime them with "A Night at the Opera."
The Met's March 18 show is "Il Trovatore," so if you prepare your kids with "A Night at the Opera," they'll be savvy to some key tunes and perhaps — if they're at all musically inclined — delighted.
No, no, no. Prep the kids with "What's Opera, Doc?" and "The Rabbit of Seville."
“How many peons are working at risk so that the well-off can cocoon comfortably and watch opera?
How many people were at risk in the production, delivery and sale chain that got that toilet paper to your home?”
Easy, Engels. Isn’t this true every single day, WuFlu or no? But I get the point, which the media will make damn sure remains unexamined.
Mark said...
No, no, no. Prep the kids with "What's Opera, Doc?" and "The Rabbit of Seville."
I'm surprised that's not on the list since everyone is familiar with the score. The Met did a wonderfully staged version of that a few year back with Peter Mattei as Figaro.
I was a big Carmen fan when I was a very young child. And also a Walter Matthau fan. For precisely the same reason.
"Easy, Engels. Isn’t this true every single day, WuFlu or no?"
Uh, no. Every single day is not typically a close-all-businesses bourgeois panic.
Marie Antoinette understands.
I am Laslo.
"Ann Althouse said...
"No, this is fantasy. ..."
You are not thinking about the young people who see this seclusion as an opportunity to learn something new, who've thought, I've wondered about opera and I'd like to be the kind of person who can go to the opera. Obviously, this is not 100% of the young people, but I believe there are some who would like to learn to be opera lovers."
So you've changed your position from "People" and "the public" which is very broad and universal group, to young people who see this seclusion as an opportunity to learn something new and have thought about opera. You've already abandoned your position.
Your new potential opera group is miniscule to start with, and streaming opera is not new, there's plenty of free content on youtube, so most that fit this group have already been doing it.
"Ann Althouse said...
If I were keeping seclusion with my kids for a month, you'd better believe there would be high-quality shows on the television and lots of study and discussion."
That's not the issue here. It's watching opera. And what makes opera so "High quality?" How can you say it's "the best of performance arts?"
By what measure is it better than a Rock concert, or rap, or country? Or a play. Or movie or TV? Answer: None Opera is the brussels sprout of entertainment. A few people love it, but the rest of us have to forced to consume it. By the way, when was the last time either of your sons went to an Opera...without you?
The Met's own page explaining this is here.
People interested in access to the entirety of the Metropolitan Opera's recorded library can take advantage for a week free via their 'On Demand' service (15 a month or 150 per year).
I am involved on the board of a classical music group that had a concert scheduled for early April. We decided to go forward with one performance, which will be live-streamed with no audience. We are offering refunds, but many audience members may want to make a donation. Our musicians will get paid for their rehearsals and performance.
The board members are ready to chip in to make up the shortfall. We can afford to do this once.
Excellent idea. Good for them.
"a character moves up a level in the experience of life by going to the opera"
Althouse--you have just described a key passage in my life. It was 1968. My girlfriend (now my wife) and I were on a study abroad program in London. She had grown up listening to the Met broadcasts, and she took me to see an "Otello" at Covent Garden, with the great Tito Gobbi singing Iago and Georg Solti conducting.
It changed my life. I got hooked on opera and then classical music.
I had Ring tickets for April, too, darn it.
I like certain operas, and certain crappy folk/rock music too. Don't know about this here streaming doohickey, though.
The Ring, with the Monster set, I'd love to see again. I only saw "TOTG" when they did it some years ago.
Narr
Eclectic tastes
Hey, who is being forced to consume opera (or Opera)? I want details: time, place, opera, and the names of the enforcers. This is supposed to be a free country!
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No live chamber music for me tomorrow
Marc reports: People interested in access to the entirety of the Metropolitan Opera's recorded library can take advantage for a week free via their 'On Demand' service (15 a month or 150 per year).
Thank you, Marc. I didn't know that. In this period of abject sportslessness, some good opera will lift my sagging spirits.
Not a great selection being offered, except for Eugene Oregon and Fille du Regiment -- violent or tragic or both. But instead of complaining I suppose I should subscribe.
It Italy, and in much of Europe, opera is a common man's entertainment as well as an upper class one. There is no good reason to consider it elitist.
Eugene Oregon
LOLOL! Autocorrect, right?
By what measure is it better than a Rock concert, or rap, or country? Or a play. Or movie or TV?
Endurance of time as well as ability to crossover to other cultures/countries.
More people have seen a performance of Carmen over the past 100+ years than those who have seen that Great White show you probably watch over&over&over again.
One of Tchaikovsky's nearly forgotten operas, Eugene Oregon. There are many such masterpieces, I'd guess, Jörg Widmann's Messiaen and Mark Adamo and Jake Heggie's collaboration Hillary among them.
But instead of complaining I suppose I should subscribe.
Whether one should subscribe to the Met streaming service, I don't know-- as someone mentioned, there is a great lot of opera available free on YouTube. I do, when I'm not poor, but much of the reason for that is nostalgia for Saturday afternoons long past (not that there aren't great singers there now etc).
They still have Saturday Afternoon at the Met, at least they have it on D.C. radio.
The Flying Dutchman is playing right now.
(I saw it when the Washington Opera presented it years ago. Was half-planning to go up to NY to see it again, but I saw that the available tickets were $$$.)
"the best of performance arts?"
This was the original intention of opera - to combine song, dance, drama, and the visual arts in a new approximation of classic Greek drama.
The reviews of their "Porgy & Bess" were utterly fantastic, if that's part of the event.
Decided to play my La Bohème DVD [Netrebko & Villazon]. Mi chiamano Mimì still gives me goose bumps no matter how many times I hear it.
"Fille du Regiment"
This was a funny production with Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez.
This was the original intention of opera - to combine song, dance, drama, and the visual arts in a new approximation of classic Greek drama
Of course, in places like Italy, they sing their opera in the vernacular. For us English-types, it sounds much more exotic being in a foreign language.
"Blogger purplepenquin said...
By what measure is it better than a Rock concert, or rap, or country? Or a play. Or movie or TV?
Endurance of time as well as ability to crossover to other cultures/countries.
More people have seen a performance of Carmen over the past 100+ years than those who have seen that Great White show you probably watch over&over&over again."
Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy" video has been watched 803,757,616 since March 29, 2019. You lose.
"Althouse--you have just described a key passage in my life...."
Beautiful! So sweet that it led to marriage too. And that you never got jealous and killed her. (Othello joke)
"I only like about 30 Operas, most by great composers"
I think that about half of the opera performances worldwide are of about 40 operas.
"Othello joke"
There's actually a Gomer Pyle episode called "Sergeant Iago," where Sergeant Carter is trying to convince Gomer that Luanne is unfaithful to him.
the story and the music are so accessible and enjoyable to almost anyone
Every child needs to learn about lust, desertion, smuggling, betrayal, and murder as early as possible. And making cigarettes!
Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy" video has been watched 803,757,616 since March 29, 2019.
Defining quality down.
So what that a bunch of people watched that "music" video? That has as much significance as the fact that several billion people took a crap today. Certainly, the two are similar to each other.
If you get access to the Met's On Demand Library try the 1985 "Marriage of Figaro" with Kathleen Battle as Suzanna and Carol Vaness as the Countess. It's the best production of that opera I've ever seen. There is not a weak link in the entire cast and every singer seems to embody the character portrayed. Also, it's a good first opera for anyone.
Don't forget to see the Benny Hill version of Carmen, if you can find it.
One of Tchaikovsky's nearly forgotten operas, Eugene Oregon
Alas, the singers are usually from Portland.
“Uh, no. Every single day is not typically a close-all-businesses bourgeois panic.”
I was observing the underlying fact that the worker has to show up everyday to make it happen, while the affluent reap the benefits and exercise their options in relative security. Same as it ever was. And to call the current situation a close-all-businesses bourgie panic is the kind of exaggeration that, well, makes the bourgies panic.
"And that you never got jealous and killed her. (Othello joke)"
Heh.
Othello was such a chump! And he falls for it every time. Someone needs to rewrite that story and have Othello and Iago fight a duel to defend Desdemona's honor. If you want a melodrama, Othello wins, and humbly begs her forgiveness for associating with a crumb like Iago. If you want a tragedy, Iago wins and carries off Desdemona, who kills him and then herself. It could be called Eugene Othello.
"Mark said...
Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy" video has been watched 803,757,616 since March 29, 2019.
Defining quality down."
OK boomer. I bet more people, in every age demographic, would prefer her to Opera.
Carol suggests: If you get access to the Met's On Demand Library try the 1985 "Marriage of Figaro" with Kathleen Battle as Suzanna and Carol Vaness as the Countess.
LOVE that opera! Do you know if Leontine Price's farewell performance of Aida is available? I saw it many years ago. Great performance!
This is great. I was unable to attend any of this season's "Porgy and Bess," or its Fandango cinema broadcasts. Fingers tightly crossed it is among the future streams, regardless of which year it was produced. I finally have a reason to learn how to cast from my laptop to my TV.
mockturtle you can look at the online catalog - it says there are five videos of Aida. I'd look further at the catalog for you, but my computer is really slow right now.
The best opera I ever saw was Renée Fleming as the Countess, Cecilia Bartoli as Susanna, and Bryn Terfel as Figaro in the Marriage of Figaro. Lyric Opera in Chicago in late 1990's. It was amazing, especially Fleming. Looks like it is on Met Opera on Demand (so I guess it must have been a Met production that travelled.).
mockturtle you can look at the online catalog - it says there are five videos of Aida. I'd look further at the catalog for you, but my computer is really slow right now.
Thanks, PL. I'll do that.
The best opera I ever saw was Renée Fleming as the Countess
Not sure why but I've never appreciated Fleming's voice.
Curious George to Mark:
"Defining quality down."
OK boomer. I bet more people, in every age demographic, would prefer her to Opera.
Could be, in our little slice of time, but very unlikely to be so in any longer term.
Anyway, so what? People who don't know shit from shinola about [insert subject here] are always sure that there is no difference between shit and shinola. (Get 'em on a subject they themselves know and love, however, and they will suddenly be able to differentiate.)
Then there are the people who for some reason get really butthurt at any suggestion that a product of traditional high culture really is better than any piece of crap that happens to be popular. (N.B.: "Popular" ≠ "crap", though crap can be popular, any more than "not popular" = "not crap".)
Leontyne, not Leontine. :-(
You do realize, monkey, that people everywhere laugh at your little attempted insult there?
"Then there are the people who for some reason get really butthurt at any suggestion that a product of traditional high culture really is better than any piece of crap that happens to be popular."
Motzart's Opera's are still being played. They're over 200 years old. Are people going to listen to Lady Gaga in 2220?
Love Renee Fleming - saw her in Thais with Thomas Hampton at the Chicago Lyric Opera. Love Cecilia Bartoli and Bryn Terfel too. One of my very favorite gifts from my husband is Cecilia Bartoli's CD "If You Love Me." I think I'll get it out and play it right now.
Carmen is a great first opera, especially in the old Zeffirelli production. I’ve seen two more recent productions that I wouldn’t recommend for children. Some say The Magic Flute, but it’s weird and nonsensical—as long as you don’t have to explain it, maybe it’s OK. The Barber of Seville is great and familiar to anyone who’s heard a bit of Bugs. Aida is a pretty good choice too. The Met’s most recent production has animals onstage in a great parade. Always fun. And the sad ending is ten or twelve minutes of the most beautiful music in the repertory. So many good choices. On the other hand, I watched a Royal Opera production of Macbeth with 25 witches and no boiling cauldron, so you can’t always count on verisimilitude.
One day I hope to see the Ring, but not in the Page production. I’ll wait.
There's a 1976 film production of Marriage of Figaro, on DVD, with Hermann Prey as Figaro, Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau as the Count, Mirella Freni as Susanna, Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess, and Maria Ewing as Cherubino. My gold standard. Corriam' tutti a festeggiar'!
"Carmen is a great first opera,"
It is. My rule is that someone should see Don Giovanni, Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Die Walkure, and Otello. If one doesn't like any of then, then he or she probably doesn't like opera in general, though they may find some little niches they like.
Angle-Dyne, Samurai Buzzard said...
Curious George to Mark:
"Defining quality down."
OK boomer. I bet more people, in every age demographic, would prefer her to Opera.
Could be, in our little slice of time, but very unlikely to be so in any longer term.
Anyway, so what? People who don't know shit from shinola about [insert subject here] are always sure that there is no difference between shit and shinola. (Get 'em on a subject they themselves know and love, however, and they will suddenly be able to differentiate.)
Then there are the people who for some reason get really butthurt at any suggestion that a product of traditional high culture really is better than any piece of crap that happens to be popular. (N.B.: "Popular" ≠ "crap", though crap can be popular, any more than "not popular" = "not crap".)
The issue at hand is that people, changed by Athouse to young people, would turn to Opera to fill the time. That's insane. Because of some free free streaimng, The young are infatuated with their music. Like Billie Eilish. And rap. Or what ever. It's stupid. How many people...kids...say if I just had the time I would get into opera.
Now once I put her position back to her, she bailed. Her declaration id beyong abdurd. Young people...all people...will take the extra time to dive deeper into things that are important to them. They aren' going to watch some Opera.
This is why Althouse taught law and didn't practice it.
Here's a nice selection of opera videos from lesser opera companies, that an article in the Telegraph put me onto. Opera Vision. It was part of a larger list of things to do while on lockdown in the UK.
There's a 1976 film production of Marriage of Figaro, on DVD, with Hermann Prey as Figaro, Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau as the Count, Mirella Freni as Susanna, Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess, and Maria Ewing as Cherubino. My gold standard. Corriam' tutti a festeggiar'!
Agree, tcrosse! Mirella Freni one of the best sopranos of all time, IMHO.
One of Tchaikovsky's nearly forgotten operas, Eugene Oregon. There are many such masterpieces, I'd guess, Jörg Widmann's Messiaen and Mark Adamo and Jake Heggie's collaboration Hillary among them.
And let us not forget Donizetti's unforgettable Lucia the Labrador.
La Fleming! Terfel! I haven't the time to watch opera (I think it must be watched, live if possible) but CDs of these two doing Handel arias (Bicket/OAE, and McKerras/? respectively) are always in my rotation lately.
My first opera was Butterfly, with my aunt Louise's old buddy Mignon Dunn as someone-- backstage, the whole hick schtick . . . Can't say it made me a lifelong fan right then and there, but I stuck with it and look forward to a night at some opera.
Narr
Love Te Kanawa on Strauss's Four Last Songs
“You do realize, monkey, that people everywhere laugh at your little attempted insult there?”
That’s why he should be referred to as Dumb Monkey.
Boomers at least know how to code their comments so people can see where the quoted section ends and the comment begins.
It makes me ill when I consider that Bloomberg wasted $500 million on nothing when he could have given it to the Metropolitan Opera.
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