Live from the MET series, Phoenix Picturehouse (27/10/12)
So I thought I'd knock the culture factor up a notch and go and see an opera.
The Phoenix Picturehouse in Oxford are one of the many cinemas around the world that are taking part in the New York Metropolitan Opera's live in HD project. This project involves the Met broadcasting one of their performances live to cinemas around the world to spread the enjoyment of opera.
So yes I didn't get to dress up and go to the opera in person but I did get to watch it live from a comfy cinema seat at a fraction of the price (especially when you take into account how much the ticket to New York would cost!).
So my chosen opera was Otello, Verdi's operatic retelling of Shakespeare's infamous story of revenge and jealousy. In preparation for the show I decided to read the play at home first so I would know the basic story. This was a good idea in hindsight as, although it was subtitled, the opera was in Italian. Because I knew the basic story I didn't have to religiously study the subtitles to understand what was going on and could turn my attention to the singers.
And what singers they were. I am infamously not musical but even I could appreciate that they were incredible singers. The three central characters Otello, played by Johan Botha, Desdemona, Renee Fleming, and Iago, Falk
The Phoenix Picturehouse in Oxford are one of the many cinemas around the world that are taking part in the New York Metropolitan Opera's live in HD project. This project involves the Met broadcasting one of their performances live to cinemas around the world to spread the enjoyment of opera.
So yes I didn't get to dress up and go to the opera in person but I did get to watch it live from a comfy cinema seat at a fraction of the price (especially when you take into account how much the ticket to New York would cost!).
So my chosen opera was Otello, Verdi's operatic retelling of Shakespeare's infamous story of revenge and jealousy. In preparation for the show I decided to read the play at home first so I would know the basic story. This was a good idea in hindsight as, although it was subtitled, the opera was in Italian. Because I knew the basic story I didn't have to religiously study the subtitles to understand what was going on and could turn my attention to the singers.
And what singers they were. I am infamously not musical but even I could appreciate that they were incredible singers. The three central characters Otello, played by Johan Botha, Desdemona, Renee Fleming, and Iago, Falk
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