Comments on: Opera Invades The Movie House http://themovieblog.com/2008/11/opera-invades-the-movie-house The Official Home of Correct Movie Opinions Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:59:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kate http://themovieblog.com/2008/11/opera-invades-the-movie-house#comment-172570 Kate Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:40:10 +0000 http://themovieblog.com/?p=15740#comment-172570 I always make it to at least one performance at the L.A. Opera, and the Met will always have my money, but all of the live shows I've gone to are almost better than the real thing. Sometimes you get a host like Renee Fleming or Deborah Voigt who are real stars and not some tossaway soprano who needs a gig, you can see the crew working backstage, close-ups on gestures and expressions you never would have seen from the family circle seats, interviews, 'Doctor Atomic' had a History Channel-esque special on Oppenheimer, an intermission countdown, and all of it for the smallest fraction of an orchestra ticket. But when Karita Mattila fucking OWNED her last aria at the end of 'Salome', I was so disappointed I wasn't part of the screaming crowd when they cut to black. That performance was easily on the same level as Joan Sutherland when she did Lucia back in the '70s. It's an affordable alternative to the real thing, you get a lot for it, but there's one thing they never show: the chandeliers going up. :) The experience is a totally different thing. The ticket price is a great incentive and if it wasn't for that, I probably never would have been introduced to how incredible 'Peter Grimes', 'Macbeth', and 'La Fille du Regiment' are. (Florez took a curtain call after "Ah Mes Amis..."! Nobody does that at the Met!) Okay, shutting up. But seriously, I love the live shows, it's great to have them when I'm on the other side of the country, but everyone needs to see it live once. (If you're around L.A. actually, 'Carmen' was outstanding.) I always make it to at least one performance at the L.A. Opera, and the Met will always have my money, but all of the live shows I’ve gone to are almost better than the real thing. Sometimes you get a host like Renee Fleming or Deborah Voigt who are real stars and not some tossaway soprano who needs a gig, you can see the crew working backstage, close-ups on gestures and expressions you never would have seen from the family circle seats, interviews, ‘Doctor Atomic’ had a History Channel-esque special on Oppenheimer, an intermission countdown, and all of it for the smallest fraction of an orchestra ticket.

But when Karita Mattila fucking OWNED her last aria at the end of ‘Salome’, I was so disappointed I wasn’t part of the screaming crowd when they cut to black. That performance was easily on the same level as Joan Sutherland when she did Lucia back in the ’70s.

It’s an affordable alternative to the real thing, you get a lot for it, but there’s one thing they never show: the chandeliers going up. :) The experience is a totally different thing. The ticket price is a great incentive and if it wasn’t for that, I probably never would have been introduced to how incredible ‘Peter Grimes’, ‘Macbeth’, and ‘La Fille du Regiment’ are. (Florez took a curtain call after “Ah Mes Amis…”! Nobody does that at the Met!)

Okay, shutting up. But seriously, I love the live shows, it’s great to have them when I’m on the other side of the country, but everyone needs to see it live once. (If you’re around L.A. actually, ‘Carmen’ was outstanding.)

]]> By: 2poor4opera http://themovieblog.com/2008/11/opera-invades-the-movie-house#comment-172504 2poor4opera Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:33:15 +0000 http://themovieblog.com/?p=15740#comment-172504 I think this is great and I hope they start doing it near me. I've always been interested in Operas and have so few chances to get exposed to them. I can in no way afford to travel or buy tickets to a live one. I know it's not the same, but at least it's better than nothin. I think this is great and I hope they start doing it near me. I’ve always been interested in Operas and have so few chances to get exposed to them. I can in no way afford to travel or buy tickets to a live one. I know it’s not the same, but at least it’s better than nothin.

]]> By: Meli http://themovieblog.com/2008/11/opera-invades-the-movie-house#comment-172477 Meli Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:18:36 +0000 http://themovieblog.com/?p=15740#comment-172477 Yeah, the Regal near me has been showing Operas on the big screen from the Met for a long time, but I'm glad to see the trend is branching out. Yeah, the Regal near me has been showing Operas on the big screen from the Met for a long time, but I’m glad to see the trend is branching out.

]]> By: probitionate http://themovieblog.com/2008/11/opera-invades-the-movie-house#comment-172457 probitionate Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:26:59 +0000 http://themovieblog.com/?p=15740#comment-172457 Why is this a news item? They've been doing it here in Canada for a year...and in the States at Regal cinemas for longer. (Ditto for ballet) Why is this a news item? They’ve been doing it here in Canada for a year…and in the States at Regal cinemas for longer. (Ditto for ballet)

]]> By: Brad http://themovieblog.com/2008/11/opera-invades-the-movie-house#comment-172452 Brad Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:47:16 +0000 http://themovieblog.com/?p=15740#comment-172452 Doug, they have already started doing this in Buffalo. I'm not really an opera fan, but it does come in handy when I want to take a classy lady out for a night. It's a much cheaper alternative to faking culture. Doug, they have already started doing this in Buffalo. I’m not really an opera fan, but it does come in handy when I want to take a classy lady out for a night. It’s a much cheaper alternative to faking culture.

]]>