One of our many anonymous contributors/spies found themselves at the International Opera Awards ceremony in London on Sunday and gave us a quick breakdown of the highs and lows… As a full house gathered in the Savoy Theatre, the audience well represented the tone of the evening: a division between the old and the new,… [Read More]
Protesters on the Street and NYPD in Dress Circle: The Premiere of The Death of Klinghoffer at the Metropolitan Opera
Elizabeth – With all the hype surrounding The Death of Klinghoffer I was a bit apprehensive about Monday night’s Met premiere. The anti-Klinghoffer movement was growing and intensifying over the past few weeks and now even included calls to burn the set to the ground. I feared there would be disruptions and possibly even violence over… [Read More]
2013-14 Season Recap
After a New York City opera Season of big breasted bankruptcies, last second cast changes, Super Bowl singing mermaids, unexpected career making performances and all things colorful and gay here is a recap of our favorites and not so favorites from the 2013-14 season. Elizabeth- This past season there were many terrific opera performances, but two… [Read More]
Six Characters in Search of a Murder: Two Boys at the Metropolitan Opera
Elizabeth – Settling in to our seats for Two Boys, the first night of OPERA America’s National Opera Week, Shawn and I were playing with our iPhones when an older usher came over and told us politely, yet firmly, that we were not allowed to use our iPhones in the theater, only the lobby. I… [Read More]
Scorned Love Letters and Snowy Duels: Eugene Onegin at the Metropolitan Opera
Elizabeth – Before seeing Eugene Onegin I did not read the libretto nor a synopsis. Normally I do, but a conductor friend suggested that I avoid the libretto or any analysis of operas new to me. As he put it, there is only one time in my life that this opera will be completely new to… [Read More]
Metropolitan Opera Season Preview 2013-14 (Special All Girl’s Edition)
I recently thought to myself, who needs yet another overly cerebral, highly jaded heterosexual drag queen like me blathering about the upcoming Metropolitan Opera season on the internet? So I thought we’d let the my future wife and her soon to be mother-in-law have a go solo. Elizabeth – Ticket exchange for Met subscriptions began… [Read More]
Twiddling Dials and Bulging Biceps: The Metropolitan Opera Renovations
It is always of great comfort to know one is accurate in one’s perceptions, even if they are relatively fleeting and meaningless. The case in point would be our perceptions of the various problems plaguing the Metropolitan Opera. Not artistic but technical. We have mentioned the weird freezing wind draughts, the peeling ceilings, audience blinding… [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]
How To Stylishly Cuddle At The Metropolitan Opera And Other Dirty Tricks
I have been to the Met a great great many times, and with a great (great) many women throughout the years, and have had many bizarre adventures there. (Ask me about the time I had sex with my high school girlfriend on the Zeffirelli Third Act set of Aida while the Second Act Triumphal March… [Read More]
