"Ah! Night of rapture."
Last night, I returned to the New York City Opera ( where the opera madness began) for their production of Madame Butterfly. Pathetically, it didn't take long for me to realize that I have become spoiled.
It wasn't that it was bad. It just wasn't as good as the Met. Which, I know, is unfair to compare.
I had anticipated that the set wouldn't be as awe-inspiring. What I did not anticipate was the difference in the quality of the performance itself and in my fellow audience members as well! I think the latter difference was the most surprising. The average age of the audience was much younger and going to the opera was much more of a social activity. By contrast, at the Met, people are actually going for the opera. It's not uncommon for me to see a lot of other single attendees at the Met. Last night, I felt conspicuously alone. The audience was also much more disruptive: whispering during the performance, dropping programs, unwrapping candies, rattling their bags, and one couple sitting behind me thought that the prelude to Act III was a time for chit-chat just because the singers hadn't yet come on stage to sing. *headdesk*
As for the singing, I think it was a combination of problems. The performers weren't as good and neither are the acoustics at the New York State Theater. For example, when the soprano was singing downstage I could hear her perfectly. When she sang upstage, she was muffled. And sometimes, the orchestra drowned out the performers. But other than that, it was an enjoyable evening. It also seemed a whole lot shorter after Monday night's 6-hour Wagner marathon. ;)
I managed to snag just this one photo of the theater. It's not the greatest, but I didn't dare try and take another as the ushers were lurking about. And unlike the ones at the Met who'll let you get away with things, the ushers at the New York State Theater are hard core and mean.
It wasn't that it was bad. It just wasn't as good as the Met. Which, I know, is unfair to compare.
I had anticipated that the set wouldn't be as awe-inspiring. What I did not anticipate was the difference in the quality of the performance itself and in my fellow audience members as well! I think the latter difference was the most surprising. The average age of the audience was much younger and going to the opera was much more of a social activity. By contrast, at the Met, people are actually going for the opera. It's not uncommon for me to see a lot of other single attendees at the Met. Last night, I felt conspicuously alone. The audience was also much more disruptive: whispering during the performance, dropping programs, unwrapping candies, rattling their bags, and one couple sitting behind me thought that the prelude to Act III was a time for chit-chat just because the singers hadn't yet come on stage to sing. *headdesk*
As for the singing, I think it was a combination of problems. The performers weren't as good and neither are the acoustics at the New York State Theater. For example, when the soprano was singing downstage I could hear her perfectly. When she sang upstage, she was muffled. And sometimes, the orchestra drowned out the performers. But other than that, it was an enjoyable evening. It also seemed a whole lot shorter after Monday night's 6-hour Wagner marathon. ;)
I managed to snag just this one photo of the theater. It's not the greatest, but I didn't dare try and take another as the ushers were lurking about. And unlike the ones at the Met who'll let you get away with things, the ushers at the New York State Theater are hard core and mean.