The Charles delivers opera to masses in new endeavor
Going to see an opera at the Charles won't be exactly the same as going to Italy, but it has its perks. For example, the operas are subtitled to facilitate understanding.
"A lot of people appreciate the subtitled version ... you get to actually understand what's going on," Anderson said. With subtitles, these operas become less foreign. It's possible to understand the plot and what the characters are saying. The audience can still enjoy and appreciate the music, but hopefully the subtitles will span the language gap.
So far, the La Scala series has appealed mostly to crowds of middle-aged people and senior citizens, but Anderson believes that if the right opera comes around, these broadcasts could appeal to younger crowds. Perhaps these broadcasts will reunite younger crowds with opera - they are certainly within a student's price range. The cheapest tickets for the Baltimore Opera Company are $46, and they are all up in the balconies. Tickets to the La Scala broadcasts at the Charles are only $21, and everyone has a front row seat.
Perhaps it is the price of opera tickets that have made this cultural institution so foreign to those in college - operas used to be common entertainment much like movies are today. It seems fitting, then, that operas are coming to the big screen and returning to the public eye, and $21 seems a small price to pay to see an opera at the greatest opera house in the world. It truly is a little piece of history and culture that is still as equally powerful and moving as it once was. Go see an opera because who knows? You may like it.
Series Schedule:
La Scala's La Traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Liliana Cavani, conductor: Lorin Maazel. Feb. 20 and 24.
La Scala's Maria Stuarda, by Gaetano Donizetti; directed, designed and costumed by Pier Luigi Pizzi; conductor: Antonino Fogliani. March 26 and 30.
Teatro del Maggio's Musicale, Florence La Forza del Destino, by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Nicolas Joel, conductor: Zubin Mehta. April 9 and 13.
La Scala's Il Trittico, by Giacomo Puccini, directed by Luca Ronconi, conductor: Riccardo Chailly. May 7 and 11.
Teatro La Fenice's La Rondine, directed by Graham Vick, conductor: Carlo Rizzi. June 25 and 29.
"A lot of people appreciate the subtitled version ... you get to actually understand what's going on," Anderson said. With subtitles, these operas become less foreign. It's possible to understand the plot and what the characters are saying. The audience can still enjoy and appreciate the music, but hopefully the subtitles will span the language gap.
So far, the La Scala series has appealed mostly to crowds of middle-aged people and senior citizens, but Anderson believes that if the right opera comes around, these broadcasts could appeal to younger crowds. Perhaps these broadcasts will reunite younger crowds with opera - they are certainly within a student's price range. The cheapest tickets for the Baltimore Opera Company are $46, and they are all up in the balconies. Tickets to the La Scala broadcasts at the Charles are only $21, and everyone has a front row seat.
Perhaps it is the price of opera tickets that have made this cultural institution so foreign to those in college - operas used to be common entertainment much like movies are today. It seems fitting, then, that operas are coming to the big screen and returning to the public eye, and $21 seems a small price to pay to see an opera at the greatest opera house in the world. It truly is a little piece of history and culture that is still as equally powerful and moving as it once was. Go see an opera because who knows? You may like it.
Series Schedule:
La Scala's La Traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Liliana Cavani, conductor: Lorin Maazel. Feb. 20 and 24.
La Scala's Maria Stuarda, by Gaetano Donizetti; directed, designed and costumed by Pier Luigi Pizzi; conductor: Antonino Fogliani. March 26 and 30.
Teatro del Maggio's Musicale, Florence La Forza del Destino, by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Nicolas Joel, conductor: Zubin Mehta. April 9 and 13.
La Scala's Il Trittico, by Giacomo Puccini, directed by Luca Ronconi, conductor: Riccardo Chailly. May 7 and 11.
Teatro La Fenice's La Rondine, directed by Graham Vick, conductor: Carlo Rizzi. June 25 and 29.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Norma Long
posted 11/16/08 @ 12:16 PM EST
Greetings to the Chales. I commend you for presenting the operas from La Scala - how thrilling. Please send me the schedlue of upcoming opera dates at the Charles, and information on procuring tickets. (Continued…)
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