Manon

Kathleen and I went to the movies today to see the NY Metropolitan Opera’s live simulcast of Massenet’s Manon, and it was so good I felt it deserved a post, or at least a mini-post. We have been seeing Met Opera simulcasts at the local movie theater for a couple of years now, and I think this might have been the best performance I’ve seen yet, which is saying a lot. The music was superbly sung by the romantic leads Lisette Oropesa and Michael Fabiano, who were both at the top of their form. They were outstandingly well matched both musically and dramatically, and had a definite charged chemistry on stage. If I had taken a trip to New York and sprung for full-price live opera tickets, I would not have been disappointed.

I especially wanted to rave about it because the simulcast is being repeated at many theaters next Wednesday, October 30, and if you have been thinking about seeing one of those Met Operas at the movies, I recommend this one to you. More info about next week’s event is here.

Here’s a few necessary disclaimers, though: (1) It is full-blooded opera, and not one of those operas where you can sing along “Hiya Tora!”, or sit back and enjoy the scenery if you don’t like the music. So if you don’t like opera, this is probably not for you. (2) Like most operas, it ends tragically. (3) It’s a big investment—we spent over $20 a ticket, and 4-1/2 hours in the theater (although I felt the time flew by). If that all sounds like too much for a Wednesday afternoon or evening, keep an eye out for it and it might show up one day on PBS Great Performances. But if you think you’d enjoy seeing and hearing it at the movies, then I’m betting you will and I urge you to go!

Thanks,
Dorn
10-26-2019