We recently went to Ballo at the Met. I had never seen it before so I was excited. But I quickly ended up feeling like I had entered The Twilight Zone. Most of the audience was going wild for the production and I was surprised at what I was seeing and hearing. Now, the music… [Read More]
Dirty Codpieces, Sequins and Sneezing: The Tempest at the Metropolitan Opera
We saw The Tempest at the Met last week and it left me with many questions. Perhaps someone can answer at least a few of them. I know it was a contemporary opera, written in the last decade, but it left me not only with questions but also a general feeling of unease like I… [Read More]
The Bohemians in Brooklyn
The Bohemians Movie is an updated film version of Puccini’s La Bohème set in present day Williamsburg Brooklyn. As the current hot bed of counter cultural artistic expression, Williamsburg presents the perfect modern counter point to the Latin Quarter of Paris in the mid 1800’s. Produced by legendary tenor Plácido Domingo’s son, Alvaro Domingo, eleven-time… [Read More]
Floyd on Floyd: A Composers Symposium and Live Chat
Click on the link below to watch the rebroadcast of the Maria Zouves’ discussion with Carlisle Floyd about his life and works. Filmed in the Telfair Museum in Savannah, GA in front of live audience as part of National Opera Week’s Opening Events. http://operamusicbroadcast.com/2012/11/06/floyd-on-floyd-a-composers-symposium-video-and-live-chat/ For those wishing to participate in the live online chat on… [Read More]
Savannah and Sandy: National Opera Week with Carlisle Floyd
Friday, October 26 through Sunday, November 4this National Opera Week 2012. I am down in Savannah, GA where VOICExperience kicked off all of National Opera Week’s offerings Friday with a conversation at the Telfair Jepson Auditorium with the great American composer, Carlisle Floyd.Floyd on Floyd was webstreamed by VOICExperience and archived by OPERA America. Marc… [Read More]
A View From the Inside: Opera America’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Just over two weeks ago, I attended the OPERA America National Opera Center’s official ribbon cutting ceremony as a guest of honoree Sherrill Milnes. With it, the new center became available to the public and all those interested in opera. The opening itself was attended by those involved in the creation the new National Opera… [Read More]
Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera
We went to out first Met opera of the season last night. Turandot. I had never seen it in its entirety and never live so I was excited. It was also being broadcast on the Met’s Sirius Radio Channel. After passing ads in the lobby for special reward programs for people under 40, we took… [Read More]
Prelude to Performance: The Making of an Opera Singer
Martina Arroyo I’ve attended many opera performances at the Metropolitan Opera and other venues in recent years. But I’d never reflected upon the many layers of work, expertise and skill that go into the productions I enjoy for a couple few hours (and then go home). How do talented opera singers even get to perform… [Read More]
What’s Wrong With the Metropolitan Opera Online Survey?? A Lot.
Last week after finally obtaining a subscription to the Metropolitan Opera—and clearing up error after error (in call after draining call) —I received an email requesting I answer a survey from the Met. It warned me that it would take up to 20 minutes to complete. That’s a fairly long time for a survey, but… [Read More]
Why The Met Is Failing (And It Ain’t Just Artistic)
It’s no secret Peter Gelb and the Metropolitan Opera are trying to court a younger audience. Both its advertising campaigns as well as the Met’s Live in HD broadcasts are hoping to snare a wider and younger audience. I thought of this at the last opera I attended there, Macbeth, as I sat in a… [Read More]
