Met Stops Blackface Use — Page 3

because I've been hearing this for years now that opera and theatre is dying. Obviously more shows flop than hit on broadway, and the met isn't doing so great, but thats not to say it won't pick up again. Broadway was in trouble in 2009, but its been making better business than every now. Im sure they are going to figure something out, and they are never going to die as many people love the opera! Im also happy that Renee Fleming has been the curator of Bel Canto and encouraging new operas. That is the direction the industry is hopefully moving in which will get people excited again, and hopefully pick things up.

Explain that. Seriously I want to k ow what you're talking about

I never said opera was going to die, I said the Met's financial situation has been routinely on life support in recent years. They need a long-term plan, and I've met no one who has confidence in the current leadership. And it's not like this has no precedent (the New York City Opera)

"I think he's comparing you to a stupid brick wall. "

Yeah I want to know why

Theatremelvin, you basically did say that.

Fantod seriously, go **** yourself

Implying that there are no black opera singers is like saying there are no black ballet dancers: Not true, and I'm sure there are plenty of extremely talented POC who would gladly take a shot at leading roles if they were given the chance.

Did I say, yeah awesome blackface is great? No. I have always been for speaking the truth and colorblind casting so go **** yourself !

In opera, every project is a passion project.

"Did I say, yeah awesome blackface is great? No. I have always been for speaking the truth and colorblind casting so go **** yourself !"


You kind of did say it was okay because of "artistic license" earlier on in the thread, but I'll ignore that for a moment and say that we understand what you were saying. You seem to be under the impression that not a lot of black people are interested in opera, that they're more involved with other genres of music, and the fact of the matter is that the lack of POC you see in opera productions probably has less to do with how many of them are actually interested and more to do with how many of them are turned away at auditions.

A good example is the Radio City Rockettes, who for the longest time only allowed white dancers into the group. It would've been silly to go in, watch the stage filled with white dancers, and say, "Gee, I guess black women just aren't interested in dancing," because there were doubtless TONS of African American women who would've loved a chance to go up on that stage but were turned away.

Am I saying that the Met is a racist organization that doesn't allow POC up on the stage? Of course not. But implying that opera is majorly a "white thing" is very silly, because you have to take into account all the people (of diverse ethnicities) who audition, and think of the fact that a majority of people who are usually cast are white.

Have you auditioned for an opera before?

It's just the same thing as saying most rappers are black. And that's okay!

"It's just the same thing as saying most rappers are black. And that's okay!"

It's not the same thing in the sense that rappers aren't being put in roles where they're pretending to be in a different ethnicity.

Besides, if they're really having as much trouble finding non-white opera singers as you say they are, then they should just do shows that don't blatantly have non-white characters. There are many operas based in European settings to choose from.