Mtropolitan Opera Instead of Broadway- Page 2

Posted: 12/3/06 at 9:23am

Julie Taymor fans with short attention spans may want to check out the newly-shortened 100-minute version of Mozart's The Magic Flute, sung in English. There are six matinee performances: Dec. 29, 30, 31, & Jan. 1, 2, 4. Standing room is $12, and the rush tickets (for the last three only) are $20.

Then, you can see the original Die Zauberflöte in all its full-length glory, sung in German, on Dec. 15, 20, 23, 28, Jan. 1, 4, 6, 8, 12, Feb. 21, 24, & March 2, 8. But don't wait too long. Last year, all they had for sale by showtime were scattered single seats.
Met Performance Dates, Tickets and Info

[hannahshule]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 9:29am

Just adding myself to the Traviata Love Boat. It's one of my absolute favorites, and never fails to reduce me to tears. Violetta's my dream role.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 12/6/06 at 5:14am

I'll add my voice to the "Traviata" chorus! Beautiful music and (hopefully) singing, wonderful acting opportunities, and even a ballet! But I would not recommend the MET's current production of Faust - bad scenic design, costumes and lighting really make the story seem less compelling. Pity -

[UDIGDUG]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 3:05pm

I am unable to get the link to work see what cities will be showing it. If anyone can get that info, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
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Experience the excitement of the Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinees-LIVE in HD on the Big Screen! Six performances will be broadcast live straight from the stage of one of the world's greatest opera houses into select movie theatres equipped with high definition and surround sound. The performances in this historic series are one-day-only events and seating is limited. Don't miss the chance to enjoy thrilling world-class opera from the comfort of your neighborhood theatre. Tickets on sale now for 12/30 and 1/6 performances. Tickets $18 adult/$15 child.


http://www.bigscreenconcerts.com/subpage/index.asp?EventID=610&code=METpage

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/8/06 at 3:44pm

We've had a Metropolitan Opera subscription for 6 years now, but this season, under the direction of Peter Gelb, has achieved a level of excitement unlike anything I've seen. The Barber of Seville directed by Bartlett Sher and the Madame Butterfly directed by Anthony Minghella were theatrical events more exciting than most opera premieres and last season's Julie Taymor production of The Magic Flute was gorgeous.

But the performers who are making the season: young(ish) opera singers like Anna Netrebko and Juan Diego Florez and Rolando Villazon give the performances the excitement of Broadway shows.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 12/9/06 at 9:16pm

This has been an interesting first season for Gelb but if you are looking for young singers who can act, New York City Opera has been strong in that area for decades! They did an amazing A Little Night Music in the early 1990's, every Handel production is great music and visually exciting. Their Candide in March 2005 was charming. So the MET does not have a monopoly on good looking singers and excitement.

[GClef2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:20pm

Saw a local production of Faust and found it absolutely stunning.

Musical theater fans who are interested in Opera should really look into these two Operas:

Susannah- has really musical theater/ folk like music. "Trees on the Mountain" is stunning.

Rusalka- by Dvorak, this is my favorite Opera. Kind of like a grown up little mermaid. The set in the DVD of Renee Fleming's performance is easily one of my favorite sets of all time.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:28pm

I'm not a big Opera fan. L.A. Opera is hit or miss... mostly miss.

But Opera at the Met... WOW!!!

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 02:28 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:45pm

My first opera was Il barbiere di Siviglia. I highly recommend it for anyone's first experience at one.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 2:57pm

The last two shows at the LA Opera were FANTASTIC! Audiences members were saying that 'The Coronation Of Poppea' was the BEST production of it they had ever seen.

They are now gearing up for 'The Rise And Fall Of Mahagonny' being directed by John Doyle (No, the actors won't be playing instruments..) and it's starring Patti LaPone AND Audra McDonald!

How can you beat THAT?!


Info

[hannahshule]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 3:58pm

For the opera goer who has seen all the classics, I'd like to suggest Verdi's "Simone Boccanegra" in Feb. and March starring probably the greatest soprano today, Angela Gheorghiu. I'm going mainly to see her (the story of the opera is quite convoluted, but a great score), but she really has all the passion, excitement and talent whne you think of the tip-top opera stars.
Just putting that out there

Updated On: 1/13/07 at 03:58 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 5:53pm

>> In fact many if not most of the great 20th century operas were created for and premiered on Broadway.

Erm... uh... no. Sorry. STREET SCENE and PORGY premiered on Broadway, true, and shows like CANDIDE and SWEENEY are of course making the rounds of the opera houses, but the great 20th century operas were created for opera houses. I cant imagine NIXON IN CHINA or DEATH OF KLINGHOFFER or any other major work playing well on Broadway.

But anyone interested in theatre *must* see the Taynor FLUTE. It doesnt *completely* work, especially in the second act, but it comes damn close.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:25pm

An earlier post asked about the upper seating levels. I had a subscription fro 25 years in row D of the Balcony - it is far away but you have a complete, panoramic view of the stage and the sound there is fabulous.

[Mooo]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 12:47pm

I've worked at the Met for 12 years onstage and it's pretty cool to see the response to this years season and the changes Peter Gelb has brought in. Yesterday we did our third live HD broadcast to movie theaters around the world and they've been really succesful. All of these changes are being brought about because we never really recovered from 9/11 like Broadway did and we need to build our audiences back up to preserve the company. The post that said we have loads of cash isn't exactly right. We've had a couple of very large donations in the last couple of years that have helped keep the company solvent. There are fears that Opera as an art form is dying off because of a lack of interest from younger generations. The $20 rush tickets have sure helped to bring younger people to the shows. They've had some problems with people buying the rush tickets then scalping them out front but hopefully that won't discourage them from continuing the program after this first run ends this year.
Keep spreading the word.

[lna]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 1:07pm

The Met is broadcasting some of the operas on television. It's not the same, but if you can't get to the movie theater or to the Met, check out Great Performances on PBS. The Magic Flute will be airing on January 24 on some PBS stations.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 1/14/07 at 6:29pm

Mooo - does the HD broadcast change/interfere with the experience of people in the audience? They are broadcasting my next performance and since it is Barbiere I don't want cameras and stuff "intruding" especially since I pay such a huge sum for my orchestra seat! (GASP)

[Mooo]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 9:21pm

You will see cameras in the house (about 7 in sight) and occasionally you may see a lens protruding from the wings. Also lighting levels will be boosted a small amount. Since Barber is a fairly bright show it shouldn't be much different. The cameras are pretty well placed as to not interfere with the live audience. Many of the changes for the broadcasts take place backstage where they conduct on-camera interviews onstage and in the dressing rooms during the intermissions.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 9:49pm

Consider some of the best operas written in English, in my opinion.

Almost anything by Benjamin Britten. From the tragically dramatic (Turn of the Screw) to the incredibly funny (Albert Herring)

Also anything by Giancarlo Menotti. Again, he wrote incredible tragedies like The Medium, but its original premiere shared a stage with his cutest comedy, The Telephone.

Also, more contemporary composers are writing incredible operas. Mark Adamo wrote a far superior score for Little Women. Jake Heggie created a masterpiece in his adaptation of Dead Man Walking and Rachel Portman has also written a Little Prince that is much more beautiful than the musical film version.

William Bolcom's A View From The Bridge is a sweeping piece of music drama that I think musical theater fans might find accessible, as well as some early operas of Ned Rorem (Childhood Miracle, Three Sisters Who are Not Sisters) and some of the works of Virgil Thomson, which while a bit odd (Four Saints in Three Acts and The Mother Of Us All both have librettos by Gertrude Stein) are exquisitely beautiful musically.

Anyone have other ideas of favorite opera in English?

Oh, also, some purists may hate this, but my opinion is that if you can't understand the libretto, you're only getting part of the experience. So if the foreign languages get you scared, then Chandos records puts out a great collection of famous operas in English translation, including great ones like Le Nozze di Figaro, Barber of Seville, La Boheme, Aida, etc etc. Great great music with librettos that you can follow while you listen. I, of course, insist that you listen to the operas in the original language once you've grasped the story, but I think its a wonderful guide for great music.

[mmajer]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 10:01pm

To back up gclef2 I must say Susannah is a phenominal opera. I first discovered it when a girl from my college sang a phenominal "Trees on the Mountain" and then listened to the full score. Amazing work. Dawn Upshaw sings a great "Aint it a pretty night" on "The World So Wide" and Renee Fleming (well known for playing the title character) performs a phenominal "Trees on the Mountain" on "I Want Magic".

To anyone on here that knows Nixon in China, all I have to say is "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK" I need to see a production of this opera. My friend and I used to walk around campus randomly singing out "the booooooook book book the book book book", we got some very interesting stares. I saw the video of the debut production and it looked very interesting, stagnant, but I think that is how it came across on the video.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 10:11pm

I second both the operas mentioned above.

It also reminds me of the commercially available videos of The Mozart-DaPonte operas Figaro, Cosi and Giovanni. All masterfully directed by Peter Sellars.

I'd love to see Sellars direct a revival of Follies.

[mmajer]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 10:22pm

If anyone on here wants to view an amazing soprano they must go to the site that shall not be named and look for Jennifer Wilson. Her Turandot is amazing!

[bill mobley]

Posted: 1/16/07 at 10:53pm

I hate that Kathleen Battle literally thru her career away.

[justme2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 12:10am

Can anyone here tell me if the Barber of Seville that I saw at the SF Opera in Dec is the same production you are speaking of at the Met?

I don't have the program, and I loved the production. The house piece alone was a highlight, and the modern touches enhanced the show for the 15 year old. We had a wonderful time!

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 12:48am

I believe this production at the Met directed by Bartlett Sher (LITP) is a new production, but I could be wrong. Was the production that you saw directed by Sher?

[justme2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 1:03am

I don't have the program; I was given the tickets by the parents of the kids i was watching and left the program at their house. I will say it was the best opera I had seen in years in SF, and the fresh approach to the material made it a lot of fun for the teenager and I both!