I went to the opera - and I loved it! I have to admit, that was a big surprise to me. Yes, I had been a music major in college, but that was in the dark ages - and my exposure to opera has been "slim to none." The Metropolitan Opera in New York has begun a campaign to make its performances accessible to everyone by offering live simulcasts (filmed in HD) of some of this season's matinees - to be shown in movie theaters around the world. Marilyn and I attended Verdi's "Macbeth" this past Saturday. She has long been an opera buff - and this was part of her birthday celebration. I just didn't expect it to be a real gift to me, as well!
There are some fabulous bonuses in seeing a performance this way. There are cameras in the orchestra pit, backstage interviews between Acts, and close-ups that make opera glasses obsolete! Subtitles are unobtrusive - mainly because the music requires that sentences be sung over and over - so you are not busy reading when you want to focus on the action taking place on stage. It was truly great fun.
I have read that Broadway theaters are going to be doing this same thing - beginning in Canada. I will be so happy when it takes place here.
We have tickets, now, to "Manon Lescaut" in February - and "La Boheme" in April. So - I am happy to be one of opera's newest fans!
Who knew?
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