367 Comments
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Shocktreatment's avatar

So very much this:

"As an opera superfan, I love this. I want opera to be accessible to people..."

I am not a superfan, just a fan. A thing that happened because I was exposed to an opus that turned out to be rich treasure of humanity and optimism. It was beautiful and thrilling and I realized that I was on to something. 𝘛𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘢 wasn't life changing, but it changed me.

When I was a young renter, I had a roommate who was a carpenter at the Opera House and represented by IATSE Local 2.

Until then, I had no idea what I was missing.

Judi Lakin's avatar

This is actually a good way to get a new group to become interested in opera because most who go are older and dying off. It is a shame that so many people are so cynical about this program.

Always Be Ithacating's avatar

I don't care how idealistic or unrealistic it might be, but many people, many of them young, are so hungry for building community now. Many of them are old, like me.

Mavenmaven's avatar

One day, classic operas will be "set" during the Trump era, and there will certainly be an interesting Lucia di Lammermoor with a Natalie Harp or Laura Loomer character singing the Spargi

The Wanderer's avatar

Scaramucci will come out, sing for 11 seconds, and never be seen again.

Hamilton & The Crew TEAM ALGAE's avatar

With a coo coo boing coo coo boing coo coo boing...

The Wanderer's avatar

With a little person dressed as Trump chasing him off with a golf club.

Mavenmaven's avatar

LOL, he already has a good operatic name

josephebacon's avatar

Well ol' Phony Tony B-Liar has a new scam going!

BREAKING: BP, Uber, Amazon and more paying Tony Blair's think tank $25,000 for “networking” opportunities with politicians and policy makers at party conferences

Experts say "looks and smells like cash for access"

Full story on Democracy for Sale

https://bsky.app/profile/petergeoghegan.bsky.social/post/3mweekp2z222o

Russell Jones's avatar

>>Experts say "looks and smells like cash for access"<<

Blair: Yeah? And?

The Wanderer's avatar

The experts are not wrong.

Being released's avatar

I once saw La Boheme in translation. Unfortunately, I was in Vienna and it was translated into German. I enjoyed the music, but I had no idea what was going on.

The Wanderer's avatar

I saw a performance of La Boheme in English. It was great.

Also the Addams Family Musical.

Mr Beeep's avatar

KILL THE WABBIT!!!

(poor little bunny)

FrancescoTheMagnificent's avatar

Oh Bwoooonhilda!

You're so wooooovely!

el duderino's avatar

No thanks. I have better things to do than watch that crap!

Wait, the Met? I thought he was giving away tickets for the Mets

Bitter Scribe's avatar

Every child should be bored to tears by an opera his parents dragged him to. It's a rite of passage, damn it!

Always Be Ithacating's avatar

Better a class trip where a child is expecting nothing, but becomes so entranced they can't even hear their classmates feebly making fun of it.

Snarfyguy's avatar

OT: Big storm coming in.

Stupid wind knocked over a heavy clay planter perched on a rickety stand on the balcony.

That'll teach me.

Narrator: "It won't."

Pope Scipio Newburyporticus's avatar

My dad was a big opera fan later in his life. His favorite as far as I know was Rigoletto. He'd sing the main theme at dinner. He could carry a tune and did a fair imitation of an opera singer. Ultimate dad-singing. OMG. It was soooo embarrassing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrQV5x1sczs&list=RDSrQV5x1sczs&start_radio=1

SayItWithWookies's avatar

***The point of the high cost is to exclude the kinds of people who would only go if tickets are free.***

I'll bet you two mezzanine seats that this wanker says "liberal elites" at least once a day.

Mr Beeep's avatar

And I hope he gets slapped each time.

Sister Artemis's avatar

The only opera I've ever seen live was at the Seattle Opera center (House? Theatre?) when I went with a whole High School field trip. I believe the audience was groups from schools all over the Puget Sound. I'm sure the opera made this available at a steep or 100% discount to the schools.

It was some Wagner piece, don't remember which, and didn't love it, but it was interesting and the production was very impressive. I'm glad I went even if he didn't turn me into a big fan of the genre.

Certainly a better experience than the only other time I was at that venue, listening to Harlan Ellison wax misogynistic about his career, whining about about being criticized for his blatant sexism. Almost walked out, but it was sort of like a car wrecking slow motion - I couldn't turn away.

vorpal 🇨🇦 Elbows Up! 🇨🇦's avatar

Ah yes, dear Lady Vorpal liked Harlan Ellison and I can't stand his writing... we had many a argy-bargy over his supposed merits back when we were dating.

I do notice that when we moved from our rental house to our present house 30 years ago, his books did not make the transfer and I believe wound up in one of the refuse piles.

josephebacon's avatar

One time I had to deal with him. He was very upset about a problem and let loose. Had to cool him down get the info I needed and I followed up to get it resolved.

A couple weeks later I got a letter from him where he apologized and thanked me profusely for helping him get the issue resolved. It was placed in my personnel file.

JR's avatar

Melania wore a pantsuit to her grand state dinner. Where's the outrage? Maybe she just finished dusting and didn't have time to change? Or just channeling her idol Hillary?

vorpal 🇨🇦 Elbows Up! 🇨🇦's avatar

unless she also coffee-saluted a marine and ordered fancy mustard, they let it slide.

Mr Beeep's avatar

Does she have a channel on Trump tv

Cincinnatus's avatar

She doesn't give a fook.

Mr Beeep's avatar

Makes it harder for the rapist in chief to catch her ( not that he’s winning any marathons)

Bitter Scribe's avatar

She always looks presentable. It's her vocation.

I wish they would stop pushing her in front of cameras and making her talk, though. It's painful and embarrassing for all involved.

The Wanderer's avatar

She always looks presentable, even when she posed naked.

Donald Laporte's avatar

I Really Don't Care. Do U?

Snarfyguy's avatar

If we're going there, that ensemble with the giant bow the other day was kind of weird, when they met Xi and his wife.

Our_Man_In_Redneckistan's avatar

I think she was dressed as Jewelry He Gives You After You Catch Him Cheating.

motmelere's avatar

I grew up next to Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. Went sledding down an insanely steep hill by their stadium with a Darwinian cinder block ticket booth at the bottom. It was fun! The best part of my youth was the Lawrence University Chaple; the doges always let the boy in for free to see an orchestra.