Hmm
While I celebrate every new outlet for the performing arts, I have to
question the part about the U.S. being behind those overseas.
Since Covid-19 closed its auditorium, the Metropolitan Opera in New York
has streamed a different opera every day. They also did a live digital
gala that has been the standard others have been trying to meet, with
millions of viewers.
The Public Theater in New York has presented the first Zoom play. And
it's not just the big companies. HERE Arts Center has presented the
first Zoom opera. Heartbeat Opera's "Lady M, an online fantasia of
Verdi's Macbeth," sold out, and more performances had to be added. The
same is true of On Site Opera's "To My Distant Love;" the initial run
was sold out, so they've added performances through August 9 (so far).
And when I say "sold out," I'm not being euphemistic; tickets are $40
each to get something delivered live to your phone.
The Met can do a different opera each day because they've sent so many
live to thousands of cinemas around the world -- on all seven
continents, including Antarctica. They came up with multi-language live
subtitling systems, both for their globally distributed content and
inside the opera house itself. On Site Opera was the first to use Google
Glass for subtitles and expanded that into a smartphone app.
I wish that performing arts institutions in the U.S. got the government
funding that those in Europe do, but they're not behind when it comes to
use of digital technology. Opera America's Annual Conference this year
-- quickly switched to an online format -- featured "New Technologies
and Their Impact" as the first session after the opening.
Again, there have been wonderful developments in Europe, too. Vienna
State Opera has pioneered 4K streaming with synchronized score and
user-view selection, for which work the International Broadcasting
Convention gave them a special award. But five years earlier, IBC's
highest award, the International Honour for Excellence, was presented in
Amsterdam to the Metropolitan Opera.
London's National Theatre's "NT: Live" has delivered wonderful
programming to cinemas, too, and their library has allowed them to
stream a different play each week. They're a star of "alternative
content for cinema," second only to the Met in the U.S.
TTFN,
Mark
On 6/25/2020 10:19 PM, Monty Solomon wrote:
The future of the performing arts is digital. Marquee TV has a major head start.
To survive this pandemic and beyond, dance, theater and opera need to get
online fast, according to the new streaming platform for the arts.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/the-future-of-the-performing-arts-is-digital-marquee-tv-has-a-major-head-start/2020/06/21/21976664-accf-11ea-a9d9-a81c1a491c52_story.html
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