Met Stops Blackface Use- Page 3
Met Stops Blackface Use
theatremelvin94
Understudy Joined: 8/1/15
#50Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 6:45pm
" They will have no choice but to cut production costs in the next few years because their employees aren't going to accept many more pay cuts. If they don't find a way to do this, it may well be the end of the Metropolitan Opera Company. There aren't many people who have the resources to bail them out–––at least not in a way that would ensure its future. In fact, I can only think of David Koch. "
People have been saying this for years now, as they have been saying broadway is going down. blow it out your ass."
1) "Broadway" is not a single organization. Do you even know anyone who works at the Met? They came pretty darn close to a lockout last year.
2) "blow it our your ass"." Why are you being rude?
Updated On: 8/5/15 at 06:45 PM
#51Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 6:53pm
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.
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#52Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:11pm
It's like talking to an incredibly stupid brick wall.
#53Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:28pm
Explain that. Seriously I want to k ow what you're talking about
#54Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:33pm
I think he's comparing you to a stupid brick wall.
theatremelvin94
Understudy Joined: 8/1/15
#55Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:34pm
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)
#56Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:35pm
Most of the operas I've seen in recent years at the Washington Opera have had black male leads.
Wanting life but never knowing how
#57Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:36pm
"I think he's comparing you to a stupid brick wall. "
Yeah I want to know why
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#59Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:39pm
Theatremelvin, you basically did say that.
Fantod seriously, go **** yourself
#60Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:40pm
""I think he's comparing you to a stupid brick wall. "
Yeah I want to know why"
SERIOUSLY? Please google and learn what introspection is.
#61Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:40pm
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.
theatremelvin94
Understudy Joined: 8/1/15
#62Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:42pm
Look, opera has little profit potential–––basically zero at the Met. It's supported by philanthropy in a way that Broadway is not. If you don't get this basic difference, you don't understand the business.
#63Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:43pm
Did I say, yeah awesome blackface is great? No. I have always been for speaking the truth and colorblind casting so go **** yourself !
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#64Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:45pm
Yeah, opera is a pretty complex business. If it were profit-based, nothing would ever be produced.
And Pinto, color-blind casting for roles that are very specifically supposed to be African is ****ing bull****. Would you suggest a multi-racial Porgy and Bess? You would? Congratulations, you just set us back 80+ years in racial progress.
theatremelvin94
Understudy Joined: 8/1/15
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#67Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 8:53pm
"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.
#68Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 9:00pm
You don't know anything about it! That's the thing! Even for auditions it's still 90 percent white people. The kids at Juilliard training in this? Barely black people. I don't know what else to say
#69Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 9:02pm
Have you auditioned for an opera before?
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#70Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 9:02pm
I'm relatively new to opera so I haven't run into this problem before with the ones that I've seen. However, for this season I will be seeing Les Pecheurs des Perles and Turandot (both Met Live in HD though I'll be seeing other operas in the theatre). It's close up so there's no hiding the difference in ethnicity between the actress and the character they're playing. Obviously the casting didn't stop me from buying a ticket this time though I didn't make me happy, especially when I saw that none of the actresses playing Turandot during its entire run are even of Asian descent, never mind Chinese.
#71Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 9:02pm
It's just the same thing as saying most rappers are black. And that's okay!
#73Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 9:13pm
"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.
theatremelvin94
Understudy Joined: 8/1/15
#74Met Stops Blackface Use
Posted: 8/5/15 at 9:17pm
""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."
Why are we assuming Pinto's premise is true when we *know* it isn't?
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