There were many memorable moments from the Met in HD this past season. This has to be close to the top of the list.
The Final Scene of Massenet’s Thais with Renee Fleming and Thomas Hampson:
In May I finished my first session teaching my Passion for Opera series at Sonoma State Univerity (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute). I had the pleasure of sharing opera with 200+ opera lovers and new comers (all wonderful and attentive students) who seemed to revel in the great established stars of opera today as well as a number of up and coming singers.
Over an 8 week period, I introduced about 50 singers in all voice categories to my students. Among those singers who particularly made an impact were the great Polish contralto, Ewa Podles; the up and coming tenor, Charles Castronovo; tenor, Jose Cura, dramatic soprano, Maria Guleghina and mezzo, Elena Garanca.
While opera companies struggle to get younger audiences into opera houses, I have taught over 2000 students in the past decade whose average age is around 55. I rarely attend opera in any venue in the Bay Area now where I don’t meet a number of my students who thank me for introducing them to what has become their passion.
It’s particularly important to marketers to capture people in their 20s who may make a habit of attending opera for another 40 years. I suspect, however, for every hundred 20 year olds enticed to opera for the first time, 90% or more never return.
Opera is a mature art form. It requires time, attention, and an open ear to understand. I firmly believe that opera is best appreciated by mature individuals whose life experiences permit them at a certain age to pursue those things put aside by the distractions of youth. Opera teaches, touches and enriches the lives of those it enfolds. For most, it’s a bit addictive.