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If this had only occurred once this week, I would have shrugged and said, "Oh well." But I have now heard the same thing from three unrelated people, so I felt an urge to write something in the Longwood Opera blog. Maybe someone will read it. Maybe someone will have a solution to offer. Maybe not.
"Ohhhh! I LOVE LA BOHÈME!!!! OOOOH! It is one of my favorite operas! Sorry I can't go, but I already have tickets for the Met HD this weekend."
"Really? What Met HD are you going to see?"
"Unh, I'm not sure, but it is the Met HD and should be really good. Don't you think so?"
"I am sure it will be splendid, but it is not the same as live intimate theatre which is what we do."
"Maybe not, but it is the Met HD and it is live streaming! So it will be just like being there, without having to travel and the theatre is only about 10 minutes from my house with free parking!"
Well indeed the new production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena is sold out in NYC, but one can still go on-line and buy tickets for $23 (senior discount) at eight locations around the Boston area or splurge for the Lux level and pay $33.50 and for this Saturday.
Visiting the Legacy Mall theatre in Dedham on-line for the production, 60K people have already pressed their "like" buttons.
What's a small opera company to do? How can we compete at this level. Granted the Met HD is prime time Saturday at 1:00pm and we are performing Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, so there is no conflict of date or time. I forgot to add. Our performance of La Bohème runs a little over two hours including one intermission. The Donizetti (according to the on-line information) runs 4 hours and 20 minutes.
But the end of the story goes like this:
"Sorry! I cannot go to an opera twice in one weekend. It is too costly and I don't have time in my busy schedule to attend two productions the same weekend."
Let's take my predicament a bit further. What is live theater? If you are sitting in a theater, watching a streaming performance, that is occurring somewhere else on the planet at the same time, are you really experiencing live theater? If you are sitting at home, watching something on Netflix, cable, or on your computer, is it the same as sitting somewhere else and doing the same thing?
What are you going to do this coming weekend? You have lots of choices. As an operaphile, I hope you watch at least one opera this weekend. As a producer of live theatre, I hope you get out of your house and see something live and in person. As the general director of Longwood Opera, I hope you attend our performance of La Bohème at Christ Episcopal Church in Needham on Friday at 8:00pm or Sunday at 2:30pm. This just might be one of your last chances to see local, live opera performed by local, living young singers. This unique experience is priceless.
J. Scott Brumit
NEXT POST
What community building non-profit is closest to your heart? Longwood Opera of course LA BOHÈME SYNOPSIS:<br /><br />Opera in four acts, text by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after Henri Muger's novel Scènes de la Vie de Bohème (1848). The World Premiere was in 1896 and conducted by Toscanini. LA BOHÈME makes its effect atmospherically in scenes, like a series of impressionistic paintings, and not by the usual development of dramatic action. In fact there is really no dramatic development of any of the characters and huge chunks of the action occur off stage. However, it continues to be one of the most popular operas performed globally in spite of the defects held by many to be stereotypical of opera. The exuberant spirit of youth, happiness, pathos and love, as found in Muger's original sketches, is reproduced brilliantly in this masterpiece by Puccini.<br /><br />ACT I<br /><br />In their chilly attic, three of the four bohemians attempt to keep warm. The painter Marcello is prevented from burning a chair by the poet Rodolfo, who instead sacrifices his manuscript to the pot-bellied stove, while the philosopher Colline jokes about the love scenes in flames. Schaunard, a musician, arrives with food and drink. Schaunard attempts to tell the long, involved story about how he earned the money from an Englishman, but no one listens. As the three start to eat, Schaunard stops them: "On Christmas Eve drink at home, but eat out!" As they are about to have a toast, Benoit the landlord appears looking for the overdue rent. Marcello shows him the money, and the four bohemians, after many more drinks, lure Benoit into boasting about his extramarital conquests. They all feign horror and throw him out. All leave for the Cafè Momus except Rodolfo, who stays to finish an article. Mimì, who embroiders flowers, comes in looking for a light for her candle. When she is about to leave, she realizes that she has left her key. Both candles accidentally flicker out, and when Rodolfo finds Mimì's hand in the dark he describes himself to her. Mimì tells him of herself and her longing for warmth and spring. They join in a love duet before leaving to join the other bohemians.<br /><br />ACT II<br /><br />At the Cafè Momus, Marcello is embarrassed by the arrival of his old girlfriend Musetta with a wealthy councilor of state, Alcindoro. Musetta sings a song of her attractions. To get rid of Alcindoro, she pretends that her shoe is pinching her foot. Reunited with Marcello, they all escape, leaving Alcindoro with the bill.<br /><br />INTERMISSION<br /><br />ACT III<br /><br />Mimì appears shivering and ill and confides to Marcello how difficult life with Rodolfo has become. Pretending to leave, Mimì overhears Rodolfo's complaints about her. Mimì and Rodolfo decide to separate, but not until spring, while Marcello and Musetta have yet another quarrel.<br /><br />ACT IV<br /><br />Rodolfo and Marcello recall happy days with their lovers. Spirits are raised by the arrival of Schaunard and Colline. During their antics Musetta bursts in with Mimì deathly ill. Mimì and Rodolfo sing of their love, while everyone leaves for help. When they return with medicine and money from selling what little belongings each had, Rodolfo suddenly realizes what the others have seen, that Mimì is dead.
The importance of supporting the arts on a local basis is the absolute foundation of the appreciation of culture in this country. Our Company's mission, among other things, is to provide a showcase and to nurture the young singer/artists of the future. These young singers do not graduate from conservatories and universities and then appear on the MET HD telecasts. There is a very long and torturous route to a singing career. It begins with local performances supported by local audiences. If the young singers have no local venue to perform ion and hone their craft and artistry then that's the end of not only the art form but also for a way of life for not only the young singers but also for the local audience. And indeed, sitting in a movie theater is nothing remotely akin to being there in person.
Jeffrey Brody
Musical Director
Longwood Opera
Posted by: scott brumit | 10/12/2011 at 11:22 AM