The San Diego Union-Tribune: Determined to open its season with Puccini’s “La bohème” despite the pandemic, San Diego Opera will move out of the concert hall and into the parking lot next month to become one of the first professional opera companies in America to present a “drive-in” production.
5 comments:
When I first read that they were doing a distanced, 90 minute version of La Boheme - I thought to myself, “then are they really doing La Boheme?” Boheme was the first opera I had ever worked on, and I just remember being a sophomore in high school not trying to fall asleep as Mimi won’t die and sings for like 45 minutes in Act 4. I think the reimagining of Boheme to Rodolfo looking back on memories will be very interesting. Opera produces a very specific problem, because risk for singers is so very high. I appreciate that San Diego opera still wants to hold it in some capacity, because they are right - some of the shows that were cancelled will never get to see specific casts together, because priorities and schedules change. While it will be a good experience for those who haven’t gotten to perform in a “live” setting in a very long time, it will be interesting what audiences think about it. While in opera you may be very far away from the stage, now you have a windshield, and other cars, and masks, and plexiglass shields separating you.
What first caught my eye in this article is that said “San Diego.” I have a basic understanding of the San Diego theater scene, since that is one of my hometowns. I was not aware however, that opera was also a thriving section in regards to the arts. Knowing the general audience of interest here I am confident the run will be successful. From the communities I have met and have kept in touch with, I know they are very pro “let’s see what we can accomplish with the limitations we have”. I really would like to hear back with how it went. Although I have no knowledge of opera like I previously stated, it sounds like at its core the show is the same. It doesn’t have all of the elements, but I think that as long as the core story is there and it is performed with passion the audience won’t mind.
I love the idea of a drive-in opera! In a way this makes the art of opera more accessible than ever before and could potentially bring in an audience that they have never had in the past. I’ve heard so many stories of people falling in love with classic movies from the 70s and 80s sitting in their parents station wagon at the drive-in, and maybe COVID will give a new generation the chance to have those magical moments, except with opera! It is fascinating to me that directors are able to reimagine stories to be staged appropriately in the time of COVID, and love the concept of this opera being letters sung out loud in order to maintain everyone’s safety. I believe this just goes to show how innovative people in the arts are and have always been. We are always up to face any challenge presented and will meet it with creativity and positivity. The show must go on, but this time its going on at the drive-in!
I might be a little punchy because I just read the Met’s press release about punting until next year, but this is what I’m talking about! This is why I get so frustrated when I read articles about opera in the United States and they are clearly just talking about the Met. The rest of the field is still trying to make art and generate work. They are looking for innovative solutions, and they are treating the current restrictions as creative foundations for inventing a new genre of live performance. Sure, the ticket price is expensive--but it’s opera, which is always expensive, and it has to be expensive because there are so many (mostly union) people who need to get paid. I’m a big fan of people getting paid appropriate rates for their work. I am not certain about the efficacy of the drive in model for opera, since part of the fun of opera is the raw power of those big voices, but I am excited for those audiences to find out.
This is very innovative and an amazing way for opera to learn for new ways to bring art to the stage. The first opera I ever worked on was La Boheme at Cincinnati Opera and I fell completely in love with it. Like literally would cry at Mimi’s death backstage, I had never experienced opera so up close and it changed my perspective on it. The show only being 90-minutes and being told from Rodolfo’s memory is pretty cool but I wonder what parts of the show will be cut out. The biggest issue I have with this is still the ticket prices and it reminded me as to why until I was backstage, I never experienced opera. It is seen as an art form that can only enjoyed by the rich and it really is. I understand SDO needs to make as much money as they can and people need to be paid but without making it accessible, are you really helping anyone except for the company during this pandemic? Even though this is very innovative, I just wish the live entertainment industry wouldn't refuse to open the art form to less privileged communities.
Especially an art form that has millions and millions of dollars in endowments.
Post a Comment