We have some discussion today about Opera houses bringing their wares to movie theaters. We get the following scoop from the yodeling caves of Yahoo:
For opera lovers who balk at paying 180 pounds ($270) for a seat in the stalls, or anyone seeking a night out at the movies with a difference, opera houses are increasingly looking to film to boost audiences.
“We genuinely believe this is another way for people to get access to the art form in a less intimidating way,” said Gillian Brierley, head of marketing at Glyndebourne, southern England, which holds an annual opera festival notoriously difficult to get tickets to.
“Now for 10 pounds you can try it. We have very high attendance figures during the festival, but we have an aging audience and need an audience of the future. And obviously it is less of a risk to pay 10 pounds,” she said.
On one side of the coin I am glad that people who want to check out the opera are able to do so in the comfort of their local movie theatre. People don’t always have an opera house in their city so making “big city” productions available on film is a great way to introduce the art to those that may not be able to see it due to issues of cost or location.
On the other side of the coin, I think Opera is something that should be experienced live. Stage productions big and small have a power to them, because you are part of it as an audience member. Seeing it on a screen just isn’t the same as the stage. You see the shadow of the thing, which may be entertaining – but it isn’t the full experience.
What do you guys think? Would you be interested in seeing an opera at the movie theatre? Do you think this is a slippery slope that will hurt the art in the long run, or a legitimate means to introduce the art to those that may not have a chance otherwise?
For those interested in the full story – check out the source article.
