Joel Herold had never performed with a company like this. “Opera singers are known for the park and bark,” he said, “You just stand there and sing.”
Friday, April 03, 2015
Opera for the L Train Crowd
Joel Herold had never performed with a company like this. “Opera singers are known for the park and bark,” he said, “You just stand there and sing.”
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So much of this article makes me so happy.
I love that the past few years have seen a rise of new, young, and/or more daring opera companies eager to make the form more accessible to today's audiences. The classical music world has a tendency to focus so much on tradition that it does not change with the times. While there are still opera patrons seeking out the "classic" opera experience, for the most part this has kept operas restricted to an elitist, privileged audience. While it's wonderful to celebrate the rich tradition and history of classical music, I do believe there are ways to celebrate that history while adapting the art to today's audiences. If opera and/or classical music is struggling to maintain its audience base in its current form, how can it afford not to adjust its approach?
So, with all that said, hooray for operas that cater to their audiences! Hooray for opera companies lowering their ticket prices to make the art accessible! Hooray for letting opera be a party and a cheap date night with modern translations and not feel so pretentious! Hooray for site-specific productions that immerse the audience in the world immediately (although I can't imagine it would have been comfortable to watch La Boheme while freezing in a warehouse)!
Now that little comment about undercutting the unions, though...that's worth a larger conversation...
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