Opera?

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:07pm

Hi,
I'm going to the Met tomorrow for the 1st time My first time at an opera and I'm seeing La Boheme.
Anyone have any tips for a first time opera goer?
IDK what to expect, Should I know the story b4 I go in, since it'll all be subtitled(I'm assuming)

Any tips would be greatly Appreciated

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:09pm

the first opera I saw was Carmen
It helps to read whatever synopsis they give you in the program ahead of time
I read the supertitles most of the time, but honestly, through their expressions and such, you should pick up easily on the story

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:10pm

If you cry you might get better tickets.
Updated On: 1/5/09 at 05:10 PM

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:10pm

The story in this case is not very complicated so you should be able to follow it if you keep the titles on. But there will also be a synopsis in the playbill if you want to get there early and read it (and I'm sure you can also find one online without any trouble).

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:12pm

It's the same plot as RENT except Mimi dies.

Google it.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:22pm

My friend's cousin plays Musetta. Please write a review!

[fizzthelibertine]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:29pm

La Boheme is a great opera- good choice, CK. :)

Read the synopsis ahead of time- even before you arrive at the theatre. The Met Opera has a great one on their website (http://tinyurl.com/ywnl7e) Listen to a few of the major songs, like Musetta's Waltz, Che gelida manina, Si mi chiamano Mimi, and O soave fanciulla.

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:58pm

>>It's the same plot as RENT except Mimi dies.

Google it. <<

Spoiler!!!

The great thing about the Met is that they have subtitles right in front of you with every seat and you have the option to turn them off if you wish.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 6:44pm

LA BOHEME is my all-time favorite opera. I must have seen it about 30 times. The Met's production is stunning.

[A Director]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 12:30am

La Boheme is a good choice for to see for your first opera. The plot is easy to follow. Don't worry about following word for word. The music "tells" the story. One thing to keep in mind, arias do not further the plot.

As for The Met's production, it's 28 years old and was first directed and designed by Franco Zeffirelli. It is overblown, bloated, and these days, very old-fashioned. After Zeffirelli dies, The Met will get a much needed new production

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 12:35am

I agree that La Boheme is a good "first opera." It is regarded by many to be the greatest opera of all time and it is very audience-friendly. That is, if you love musical theatre, but aren't an opera person, La Boheme is more likely to float your boat than some of the less melodic ones.

Just sit back and enjoy. I've seen it three times (well, two and a half...the last time I had to leave early because I had a callback the next morning...). The first time I saw it it was stunning. Mimi's first solo is among one of the most beautiful songs ever! Excuse me...arias...whatever

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 12:48am

This was my first opera as well. I didn't see it at The Met but I saw it at City Opera. I didn't like it at first and when I walked out of the theatre my first reaction was " I don't get it, why is this considered the one of the greatest operas written?" But, after awhile it has grown on me. I haven't seen it since but I do plan on buying a standing room ticket for tomorrows performance when they start to sell them this morning. The Met has this service online where you can stream videos of their productions and I started to watch the video of this particular production. I thought it looked stunning and I don't agree with the statement that The Met has to do a new production of it once Zeffirelli dies. I thought that the set for act II looked very stunning on film and I can only wonder what it would look like when I am seeing it live onstage. I remember when I first saw it at City Opera I was talking to the singer who played Musetta. She was not only happy that someone so young (I was around 16/17 at the time) was getting interested in opera, but she felt that La Boheme was a great "beginner opera" along with Carmen. Both are two of my favorites.

What I have done and what I would suggest for anyone getting into opera is to see and explore everything. I have often gone spur of the moment via standing room or student rush etc for the opera. I would read the plot on The Met's website. And, what is also good about their site is that they offer a soundbyte of one of the more popular arias from the opera to listen to. So, I at least get a sense of the music.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 12:51am

There will be supertitles, but the thing about opera is that they repeat themselves a lot. So it's not like watching a foreign film, necessarily. Once I sat in the first row at an opera so I had to lean back to see, but fortunately I didn't have to look up that often. I would look at the story so you're familiar with it, too, though as others have said La Boheme is pretty much just like RENT, only no one's homosexual (okay, that we know of ), Mimi's a seamstress and not a stripper, and it's TB instead of HIV.

My recommendation is to be familiar with the story, and bring opera glasses or binoculars.

Also--a lot of times with arias, you think that it's over when it isn't. So don't start clapping until you're sure.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 12:57am

Spork, you have to remember that The Met doesn't do their titles like most opera houses. They have them in front of you on a little screen rather then above the stage. If your in the front row then there is a rail that goes across the front row with the little screens on them. If your in standing room it is the same thing, but the area of the rail with the screens on them sticks out a bit more so that you can lean on it a bit.

One of the best bits of advice that my former voice teacher gave about going to The Met is this. She told me that if you get a standing room ticket go down and look at the orchestra pit as if you have never seen one before. While your down there scope things out and look for an empty seat. Because The Met doesn't allow late seating, use your time in the front to get a seat and then when the lights dim dash for it. That is of course if there is an empty seat available.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 1:31am

Oh, right, I forgot about the little TV screens! IIRC, it was to make everyone happy because some opera buffs think that you shouldn't need subtitles.

[Winston3]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 2:02am

Yes, I think that is the reason as well. Also, they are little rectangle screens and they are set up in such a way that if you were to look to the left and right at the people next to you you can't see their screens. I also think that they did it this way because they know that they get an international audience and they wanted to be able to have the titles in other languages other then English. Having the screens set up the way they are allows for that to happen. All you have to do is press the little red button next to the screen to turn them on and you keep pressing it until it cycles to the language you want to see the titles in.

I remember I went to see the Taymore production of The Magic Flute and there was an elderly guy sitting right by me. During intermission the screens reset and you have to press the red button at the end of intermission to turn them back on. There was this elderly patron who was convinced that because of this his screen was broken. And, had to get an usher to help him fix it. He started his complaint with " I have been going to The Met for years..." I thought that if you had been going to The Met for years then you would know that you have to turn the screen back on once intermission is over.

[A Director]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 3:41am

There was this elderly patron who was convinced that because of this his screen was broken. And, had to get an usher to help him fix it. He started his complaint with " I have been going to The Met for years..." I thought that if you had been going to The Met for years then you would know that you have to turn the screen back on once intermission is over.

Winston - Perhaps, one day, you will grow elderly and get flustered about something that you have done many times before.

As for a new production at the Met of La Boheme, no production stays in the rep forever. I'm sure that someday, the Met will want a new production for an old standard. There are many who think the Zeffirelli production is overblown.

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:22pm

I went to the Met for the first time about 2 years ago (I've been a fan of opera for nearly 20 years though). I love the Zeffirelli Boheme, especially the part in the third act where the snow is falling. It's so beautiful. Anyway, my suggestion to anyone who goes to the Met, is to try and get there in the afternoon on a weekday and go on the backstage tour. My husband and I did that and it was fantastic. You get to see lots of neat things. I got to touch the late Tatiana Troyanos' (one of my favorite singers) costume from her Met debut in Der Rosenkavalier--it was just hanging on a rack of costumes in the hallway. The costumes have tags in them that give the names of the singers who have worn them. And when we were walking past a rehearsal studio, Deborah Voigt passed us in the hallway. I nearly died! I was only 2 feet away from her. We got to listen to her (from outside the room, in the hallway) rehearsing Ariadne auf Naxos. You never know who'll or what you'll see there. But I recommend the tour, it's great to see everything that goes on behind the scenes.

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:30pm

Thanks for all the advice
I LOVED IT
Now I want to go to another one. What are some other good one's that the Met is doing?
(I looked at the website but IDK what's good)

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:33pm

I REALLY recommend Lucia di Lammermoor.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:37pm

I second that Spork. I've heard excellent things about Thais ~ but I think tonight's the last night.

I would hold off on Wagner until you've had a little more experience. I love his stuff, but it's heavy and LONG. Worth exploring with a little more opera experience under your belt though!

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:38pm

^
That's the one with anna netreko right? My cousin told me how great she is

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:40pm

Does anyone know how often La Boheme plays at the Met? I would like to see it but it looks like the last performance is Saturday and I can't make it to that. Does the Met repeat shows?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:42pm

CoolKid ~ Lucia? Yeah ~ this season she's in it. I haven't seen her do it, but Natalie Dessay absolutely BLEW ME AWAY last season.

Drunk Chita ~ I think La Boheme is one of their standards. They've done it for at least the last three seasons (as long as I've been living here).

Updated On: 1/7/09 at 08:42 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 8:46pm

As for a new production at the Met of La Boheme, no production stays in the rep forever. I'm sure that someday, the Met will want a new production for an old standard

It's going to be the in the rep for at least the next two seasons and I think Netrebko and Villazon are going to be in it for the 09-10 season.

And when we were walking past a rehearsal studio, Deborah Voigt passed us in the hallway. I nearly died! I was only 2 feet away from her.

Voight=Elektra next season

and jordangirl, Thais is going to be on PBS Great Performances on March 28th.

SporkGoddess, I saw Lucia a few months ago and completely agree with you. That and Salome are my favorite productions thus far this season. Netrebko did not do the first run this season back in September-October, that was Diana Damrau, who was incredible. Netrebko couldn't do it because she was pregnant, but she's taking over the role for four shows starting at the end of the month, including an HD broadcast that will end up on PBS in April. Natalie Dessay did it last season.

coolkid, I'm seeing Orfeo and Rigoletto sometime this month, I'll let you know how they are.
Updated On: 1/7/09 at 08:46 PM