BRACE up to the Autumn, Winter and indeed Spring seasons by attending The Metropolitan Opera beamed to Limerick live from New York. The full suite of nine operas will screen at UCH live on a series of Saturdays between now and May 2010.
First up is Tosca, Puccini’s classic tale of “a famous opera singer, a freethinking painter and a sadistic chief of police”, according to the impressive brochure organised by the concert hall. Taking place on Saturday October 10 at 6pm, beamed in high definition from The Metropolitan Opera’s simultaneous Saturday matinee, Tosca is followed on October 24 by Aida, on November 7 by Turandot and so on. If you commit to this 2009/10 season keep an eye and ear out for megastars such as Placido Domingo on February 6 and Renee Fleming in Armida on May 1.
The brilliance and sophistication of opera at The Metropolitan is ours at last, but does Limerick enthusiasm have the stamina for the four hours and 20 minutes of Armida, for example?
“We sincerely hope so,” counters Michael Murphy, director of UCH and instigator of this virtual experience. “In so far as Ellen Kent brought her international opera for 12 years to us we had two opera seasons a year. We were delighted to be supported by Kirby Group in that and for at least four operas every year, the concert hall was exceptionally well attended, averaging 850 seats each night”.
With respect to The Metropolitan Opera, “It’s one of the great opera houses of the world. I had the pleasure of seeing Suzanne Murphy centrestage there in Norma years ago and the standards and the quality of its level are something we have to come up to. We have got in a HD projector, Dolby surround sound and a 20’ x 40’ screen which is the largest in Munster. Screening the season will be extremely exciting as there’s a lead in with cameras in the foyer, a great atmosphere communicated and a real feeling you are there. Back stage at the interval there will be spot interviews and of course, we are present for a quality of performance and production that is something I don’t think people will have experienced unless they have attended La Scala in Milan or Convent Garden”.
A local audience dressing in evening gowns, jewels and tuxedo is waived off by Michael (“We would never dictate to people how to present”, is his brisk dismissal). Better still, UCH’s night at The Met: Live in HD is a modest 25euro ticket or just 202.50euro for the season of nine operas by Verdi, Richard Strauss, Bizet and more.
