Don’t blame Canada
From the mailbag:
Dear La Cieca,
First of all, you are fab.
[Several paragraphs of fulsome praise snipped.]
But that’s beside the point.
I just noticed that the Met has published more details on their upcoming HD broadcasts. Unfortunately, at least as far as Ontario is located, they did an abominable job in choosing their locations — Waterloo and Niagara Falls.
How many people are going to drive or take public transportation from Toronto or Ottawa, for example, for that? And how many of the local population can you really rely on to make these Saturday afternoons a lasting success?
It looks as if the situation in the US might be better, but only marginally so. NY state seems to be represented by Syracuse and Albany – I wonder if they are the Empire State’s answer to Waterloo and Niagara Falls. Probably.
I immediately thought of you and how a lively discussion on your blog might reach the powers that be who we all know check out your blog incognito for a real finger on the opera pulse.
Thanks!
“Il Guarany”
In fact, upon further inspection, I discovered that Waterloo and Niagara Falls are the only two venues in all of Canada.
I know the Met said these performances will eventually find their way to PBS, where they will be rebroadcast in HD. So, at least as far as this season is concerned, we won’t miss out on much.
My main fear is that the turnout will be disappointing in the theatres and that there will be no more regular broadcasts in the future.
Okay. The site lists ONE theater in the greater Los Angeles area, and only two in New York State, one of which is in Williamsville and the other in New Rochelle.
Are they fucking kidding me? I mean, this has GOT to be an inclompleatle list.
inclompleatle=incomplete. I can’t spell.
How did you get listings of theaters? I couldn’t get any particulars from the Met website (not that I expect them to choose a Midwestern location, even though I think they’d probably fill a good-sized theater for most of the performances.)
Hi rhea, try this link and click on the different performances http://www.bigscreenconcerts.com/subpage/index.asp?EventID=610. You will be taken to a page where you will see “THEATRE LOCATIONS” in red, on the left-hand site. Click on it, and a pop-up will list the different locations in the US. Good luck!
Magic Flute is being shown in a downtown Toronto cinema. Unfortunately, it’s on Dec 30th, when your truly will be busy setting up for a fabulous New Year’s party. I assumed that the broadcasts would be shown in a few cities… If Eugene Onegin can find an audience in Waterloo, it certainly can attract people in Toronto.
Maybe baritenor was right, and the initial list was incomplete. Maybe it was the respect and fear that La Cieca’s blog commands. I don’t know, and I don’t care. As of today, however, 20+ theatres in five provinces from Quebec to British Columbia are on the list for the HD broadcasts.