Star Studded Metropolitan Opera Production Waiting For Revival

Acting is a performing art that needs a lot of nurturing. Historically, the Metropolitan Theater has been a platform that showcased many legendary performances. Off-late, however it has not been all rosy for the iconic theater.

According to the Observer, despite having big stars to boast of, currently the 133 year old Metropolitan Opera is in a sorry state. It is evident from the lackluster decision of giving up on a very interesting project, the staging of controversial and brilliant director Calixto Bieito's music drama "La Forza Del Destino". The reason cited for the decision is due to the costs being higher than the ticket sales.

Metropolitan Opera has some of the best cast & crew performing on stage including the very talented Pretty Yende, the star of the show in Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia". Her charming personality and potent voice has been so spellbinding that she has already got her first offer on national television.

The portrayal of the lead character by her and fellow actor Javier Camarena, another actor termed as the funniest performer of the year so far has been widely appreciated. Another solid pair of performers has been gracing the stage during the performance of Puccini's "La Boheme" namely Ailyn Perez and Micheal Fabiano. The smooth voice quality and towering presence of both of them on the stage has given some relief to the Opera's authoritative body for the time being.

The current manager looking after the operation of the Opera, Peter Gelb, in an interview with The New York Times confirmed that there has been a deficit of $22 million in its 2013-14 season. To make up with that within the budget of around $300 million a year, there has been exclusion of performances in the 2017-18 season. He also added that it has got nothing to do with the directors or the actors and nobody has been preferred over the other. The cancellation of "Forza" has saved almost a million dollars for the Opera in regard to the rehearsals, adjusting of the sets and the costumes.

Upon the exclusion of "Forza", the total number of new production shows now has come down to five from the per-scheduled six. Instead of "Forza", the Opera will be staging four concert performances of Verdi's Requiem featuring its orchestra and chorus under the conductorship of Mr. Levine in collaboration with soloists Krassimira Stoyanova, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Aleksandrs Antonenko, and Ferruccio Furlanetto on the 24^th, 27^th and 29^th of November and 2^nd of December, 2017.

In spite of the cancellations of planned shows, there is a hope that upcoming performances of the new shows will boost a significant rise in the revenue of the Metropolitan opera and bring back the iconic institutions lost glory.

TagsMetropolitan Opera, North America, music, Orchestra, Theater, Musical