pink is definitely NOT Mooshell's color...
Posted on 10/01/2013 1:18:25 PM PDT by Olog-hai
New York City Opera said Tuesday it is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy protection after seven decades as a fixture on the metropolitan cultural scene.
The company announced Sept. 12 that it needed to raise $7 million by the end of September. Spokeswoman Risa Heller said about $2 million had been raised, plus another $301,019 was pledged from 2,108 donors in an online campaign. …
Junior to and often feistier than the Metropolitan Opera, City Opera was a spawning ground for top opera talent that included Beverly Sills, Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming and Samuel Ramey.
But it was derailed by a series of decisions by its board, which included going dark for the 2008-09 season while its auditorium at Lincoln Center was reconstructed; hiring Gerard Mortier as artistic director only to have him back out before starting; and leaving Lincoln Center after the 2010-11 season and playing at various venues throughout the city under general manager George Steel. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I have been listening all day at work to my favorite opera - Don Giovanni. It drives many of my co-workers insane but many are coming around and say my office is a place of tranquility.
My first experiences of live opera were performances by the NY City Opera in Los Angeles, where they came every year. We had season tickets, 7th row center, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This was before LA had its own opera company.
Perhaps the NY City Opera can go on permanent tour around the country, even the world.
I stream WQXR on my office computer all day- only once in a blue moon do they play any modern stuff that drive you nuts. I have a private office but it is very relaxing even for the people visiting. They also have an opera stream (operavore)which is very good -however they get into some heavy Wagner and Richard Strauss, that can add to the stress of the day sometimes rather than reducing it!
No commercials, but they do the occassional fundraising periods- they now have an option if you give a certain amount a year,(not much- I think only 40) you can password your way out of the fundraising and hear the stream.
pink is definitely NOT Mooshell's color...
The Minneapolis Symphony has been on strike now for a year.
This is evidence that the country is getting poorer. People can’t afford to give like they used to.
Opera is actually fairly popular. What pop act can sell out the same theater 30 times in the same city within a few months?
I’ve been there several times. The prices (as far as concerts go) were not bad - I would buy a subscription, and everyone would divvy up the tickets and pick an opera. The NYC opera had light opera - I remember attending Die Fledermaus the night Clinton won the presidency.
One of the things I really liked about it was that it had subtitles! It ran across in a dark blue band above the stage, so it wasn’t invasive, and you could tell what was being sung. Opera is really fun to go watch, even if you don’t listen to it.
It is really nice to have the Met at the local cinemagics
I'm not an opera goer. What's “Eurotrash” style?
Like the circus. I went to several NYCO productions when they’d tour hear in LA. Their trucks were so cool featuring scenes from that season’s works. ‘Saw “Tosca”, Berlioz’ “Les Troyans”, Salinan’s “Kullervo”, “Carmen”...when Beverly Sills was running the show. Her artistic instincts were sharp. Not as sure of her business acumen. But I sure loved it.
Basically, a table and a lamp for props, and essentially no backdrop whatsoever.
I am mostly a Mozart aficionado for opera. Nothing too “modern” for me.
Basically it is director-oriented to the point that the original meaning of the opera is secondary to the director's "vision". So, operas are frequently set in different periods other than the one for which the opera was written; the director will try to "make a point" that has nothing to do with the original work. They will often add overt sexuality and even extraneous nudity in order to shock the audience.
Supposedly, they are trying to bring in new audiences; but I think they are driving away the core fan base.
My mom saw a great opera at the met; I just missed being able to go (had to get home to FL) and I wanted SO much to go. Can’t remember what it was but it was something traditional; maybe Madame Butterfly.
When I got home she called and told me it was horrible. She said I don’t know what they thought they were doing but it had weird costumes and settings and she had no idea what was going on - one of those strange avant garde things. They went with a whole bunch of friends and everyone hated it.
That’s very beautiful. My favorite is Marriage of Figaro.
The unions are a major problem as well. They also effect the prices on B’way.
I saw the fun Met production of “Rigoletto” at a local theatre! Really enjoyed it. Also, the National Theatre of Great Britain broadcasts live. Saw Helen Mirren in “The Meeting,” about QEII and her private meetings with various prime ministers.
I remember in the good old days when PBS TV used to regularly produce and show great operas and operettas featuring some of the most famous voices in the world.
Now just about everytime I turn it on I see that blind dude singing, I kid you not. It's like he's the last gasp of what was once a broad variety of fine cultural programming on the public airwaves.
Leni
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.