I Went To The Opera! (Sort Of)

Yesterday, to celebrate our own Momdeplume's birthday, I took her to the opera.  Sort of.  The Metropolitan Opera in New York City is presenting a handful of their performances as high definition simulcasts that can be viewed at movie theaters around the country. 

As I've never been to the opera before, I decided that seeing one on a movie screen would be the perfect way to edge into the genre.  The timing was right to help celebrate Mom's birthday so I called and suggested it.  I was met with lukewarm enthusiasm.  I got a light-handed version of typical Jewish guilt with a subtle "Well, if that's what you want to do, then let's do it."  I told her to think about it and I'd call back to get her final answer.  In the meantime I started to do some research.  Here's the first thing I learned: You have to earn the right to see this simulcast.   You'd think finding a movie listing would be one of the simplest tasks the internet performs.  I googled and followed links and looked at movie listings until I  considered tossing my computer out the window.  Finally I found a vague scrap of information that listed a theater.  Eventually I was able to find a movie time.  Because it's a single showing on a single day at a single theater (maybe there were more locations in my area, but I couldn't find them) it doesn't get advertised as thoroughly as regular movies.  Despite my frustration, I felt a little virtuous to have persevered long enough to get this much info.  (Ritu assumed I was just looking in the wrong places.  I told him to have at it.  He scrounged up the same scraps I got and admitted defeat.)

On the day of the show, I called my mom back and asked for her final answer.  She was still a tiny bit on the fence, wishing that it was an opera she was familiar with.  I pointed out that it was Hansel and Gretel so we'd at least know the story.  Finally I persuaded her with the promise of popcorn for lunch.  I picked her up and we set out in the rain to find the theater.  Here's the second thing I learned: Be prepared to shell out the big bucks.  Because this is a limited closed circuit showing, you will be paying for the privilege of seeing it.  My ticket cost $22.  Thank God my mom is a senior because that discount got her ticket down to $20.  Yee-haw!

We got our tickets and stared at the concession stand for a moment.  Neither of us knew what opera/movie etiquette was.  Would it be tacky to munch our way through the show?  We decided first to wander into the theater under the guise of choosing seats.  That way we could determine A) if we were the only suckers dumb enough to pay $20 for a movie ticket and B) what we could buy to eat. 

Turns out there were probably 40 people in the theater, many of them with huge bags of popcorn.  We threw our coats down on some seats and skipped back to the concession stand.  Laden down with popcorn and diet coke, we settled in.  The theater continued to fill up and I would say probably 75 or more people were in attendance.  The lights went down, the screen lit up and the sounds of the orchestra warming up in the pit could be heard.  Now, these are advertised as "simulcasts" but if I understand it correctly, the show we saw was performed and filmed on January 1st. 

Here's the third thing I learned: This version of Hansel and Gretel was performed in English.  (Who knew?)  And yet, there were still English subtitles which were remarkably handy.  Along with a stunning view of everything on stage, we, as a simulcast audience, we privy to a view of some of the backstage happenings and even a few interviews with cast members during the intermission. 

The show itself was utterly enchanting.  I was so taken with it that I even (briefly) forgot to eat my popcorn.  I knew to expect gorgeous voices, but I had no idea that the acting would be so good or the sets and costumes so intriguing or that the show would be downright funny and exuberant in places.  I loved every minute of it; we both did.  In fact, my mom said to me, "What a good idea this was!"  Ah, vindication!

Here's the fourth thing I learned: If you get a chance to see a Metropolitan Opera simulcast DO IT.  The next one is a showing of Macbeth this Saturday, January 12th.  (I don't know why these two are so close together--the other ones seem more spread out.) Here is a link that outlines the info and schedule nicely.   Yes, it's pricy but even if you bought the most expensive ticket at the Met, you wouldn't get a view as clear and glorious as you get with the high definition broadcast.  Not to mention popcorn.