Opera for the masses?

[sucilaria]

Opera in the new digital age

I'm curious to know what people not in a school of music think of this? Would you plunk down the price of a movie ticket to see Renee Fleming perform an opera at the met?

Discuss.

Comments

[gidaren_kun]

OMG i love renee fleming. i would totally do that.

Renee

[sucilaria]

You should read her book. I think, even if one were not a singer, he could find it quite interesting.

Yesterday my teacher Delores and I were working on my recital program, and she showed me an example of Renee's program last time she was in DC. I replied 'psh, SHE's not reputable or anything.'

[elena99]

I've never been to an opera, so I can't speak from experience, but I've been to plays. I think you would lose something in the performance when you see it on the big screen rather than live.

It could still be good, though.

Losing something

[sucilaria]

You're quite right that something is lost. However, the percentage of people that can make it to New York to see a live opera is small, and the percentage of them that can afford to see one are fewer. This opens it up to a much larger audeince, and while not ideal, is certainly better than nothing!

Re: Losing something

[elena99]

I don't think anybody could argue that it isn't for the best that more people can see Met-quality opera. On the other hand, I think it's important not to confuse seeing an opera (i.e. on the screen) with seeing an opera (i.e. in person). The ubiquity of recorded/broadcast performance makes the "specialness" of live performance all the more important, I think. Just my two cents - and, if you read the comments on my weekly newmusicbox.org columns, you will quickly see how little my two cents are worth when it comes to discussing music.

Colin

Re: Losing something

[elena99]

Agreed - both on the uniqueness of live music, and the futility of opinions :P