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September 26, 2006
Butterfly in Times Square?
We love the opera. The Metropolitan Opera opened its new season last night with Puccini's "Madama Butterfly". The production is directed by Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of "The English Patient".
A geisha named Cio-Cio-San is the child bride of American naval lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. He loves her, then leaves her, unaware that she is carrying his child. It's tragic. It's opera.
For the first time ever, the Met simulcast the production live at two venues - one in the plaza at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the other on three giant screens in Times Square.
We were on our way home from yoga at 9:30 last night when we remembered the simulcast. Chosing Times Square over Lincoln Center, we strolled down to watch it.
It was the ultimate in contradictions:
Suit and starched shirt? Yoga shorts and a smelly old t-shirt.
Red carpet? Dirty sidewalks.
Dimmed house lights? The blazing chaos of Times Square.
Pin-drop silence? Times Square.
What I find truly remarkable about the Met is its effort to reach out to the masses. Not just the celebrity crowd, the well-healed. The Met embraced everyone and invited them to see what can only be described as a truly rare talent. The opera brings together the symphony, theatre, music, and dance.
Credit to the New York Times for the photo.
Posted by dave at September 26, 2006 02:24 PM
Comments
There are few things better in NYC than the Met. Unfortunately, my last opera was "The Great Gatsby". An English Opera? Just plain silly!
Posted by: Toby at September 26, 2006 07:19 PM