Metropolitan Opera Seeks Pay Cutbacks From Unions (New York, York: house, camp)
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Opera is going to go the way of the dodo. Fortunately it will probably last my lifetime.
It is just too expensive to put on these immensely expensive productions for a smaller and smaller audience who can afford the multi-hundred dollar ticket prices.
The top performers get $20K for an evening's singing. Orchestra members earn $150K/year plus good benefits for a relatively short season...that's 90 people.
The situation is not helped by a continuing disparity in income, taken to it's extreme that will have 50 people able to pay $10,000 for a seat and the other 3000 seats sit empty.
Downsize? Once the rich find that they are not getting stupendous operas for their stupendous ticket prices, they too will abandon ship. Without world class singers at world class pay, NOBDY will go.
One glaring problem with the MET is it's size. That barn of a place must cost plenty to heat and or cool, maintain and so forth.It also needs *big* productions with equal voices to fill the place in both sound and persons.
Built at a time when as with so much else the American must have "bigger is better" mentality took over. For a while it worked as there was decent federal, corporate and private funding for the arts. Not to mention an incredible era of talent with voices such as we shall probably never see again.
As the Baby Boomers age and die off the last great American generation that appreciated high culture in decent numbers will go. Taking away not just customers but donations/their money.
There was a time when a subscription series to the Met was a must. Now cannot remember the last time one bothered. There just aren't any voices or productions one wants to see badly enough to fork over that kind of money.
Mr. de Blasio and others in the "soak the wealthy" camp should take notice of the Met's woes. There is a limit to what even those who don't have to worry about money will pay for things.
The MET like the now gone NYCO would be better served in a smaller house along the standard sizes found in Europe. This would trim so many costs and require selling of less tickets to break even on performances. Far better to have sold out nights than series in a row playing to a half full place.
Opera is going to go the way of the dodo. Fortunately it will probably last my lifetime.
It is just too expensive to put on these immensely expensive productions for a smaller and smaller audience who can afford the multi-hundred dollar ticket prices.
The top performers get $20K for an evening's singing. Orchestra members earn $150K/year plus good benefits for a relatively short season...that's 90 people.
The situation is not helped by a continuing disparity in income, taken to it's extreme that will have 50 people able to pay $10,000 for a seat and the other 3000 seats sit empty.
Downsize? Once the rich find that they are not getting stupendous operas for their stupendous ticket prices, they too will abandon ship. Without world class singers at world class pay, NOBDY will go.
Like I said...the dodo.
I agree with you, only I'm not even sure it will last your lifetime. Cuts in salaries of the musicians at the Met make NYC and their current careers less affordable. At least some of them will move on to other things, and that actually accelerates the decline. The New York Opera kept cutting until it had no choice but to make the final cut.
One glaring problem with the MET is it's size. That barn of a place must cost plenty to heat and or cool, maintain and so forth.It also needs *big* productions with equal voices to fill the place in both sound and persons.
Built at a time when as with so much else the American must have "bigger is better" mentality took over. For a while it worked as there was decent federal, corporate and private funding for the arts. Not to mention an incredible era of talent with voices such as we shall probably never see again.
As the Baby Boomers age and die off the last great American generation that appreciated high culture in decent numbers will go. Taking away not just customers but donations/their money.
Certain types of so called high culture aren't even lasting as long as the boomers. As the nation goes through cultural shifts even the tastes of the boomers are altered. Operas are often sung in Italian, French, or German. Only today if Americans learn foreign language they'll learn Spanish or some other foreign language. Instead of all Americans wanting to go to Europe when they travel, today many Americans go to Latin America, Asia, or Africa.
Focusing on the musical works of Europe from 1500s-1800s is big part in what is killing opera.
Certain types of so called high culture aren't even lasting as long as the boomers. As the nation goes through cultural shifts even the tastes of the boomers are altered. Operas are often sung in Italian, French, or German. Only today if Americans learn foreign language they'll learn Spanish or some other foreign language. Instead of all Americans wanting to go to Europe when they travel, today many Americans go to Latin America, Asia, or Africa.
Focusing on the musical works of Europe from 1500s-1800s is big part in what is killing opera.
MET opera house has had English translations via "supertitles" for years now. Behind each seat is a small screen that displays translated text of what is being sung for the person sitting behind. System can be turned off should one not care to bother.
While knowing the words probably does enhance the opera experience, generations have managed well enough without.
MET opera house has had English translations via "supertitles" for years now. Behind each seat is a small screen that displays translated text of what is being sung for the person sitting behind. System can be turned off should one not care to bother.
While knowing the words probably does enhance the opera experience, generations have managed well enough without.
Translations aren't the same. Why they may not be the main factor in the decline of opera, I think its a factor. Keep in mind that studying certain European classics was more common in prior generations among the well educated.
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