The Opera Platform - free live online opera transmissions

[aeolium]

I have just been informed, via a WNO email, of an initiative to transmit live and recorded online performances from European opera houses. Fifteen opera houses, including most of the major European houses, are participating in the programme, which is funded by the European Commission:

http://www.theoperaplatform.eu/en/partner/list

The first opera to be broadcast is Verdi's La Traviata from Madrid's Teatro Real in the production directed by David McVicar. This will be broadcast tomorrow night, Friday 8th May, at 19.55 CET. The ROH's Król Roger which has been discussed on another thread here is to be broadcast the following Saturday 16th May at 19.00 CET:

http://www.theoperaplatform.eu/en/upcoming

[teamsaint]

I have just been informed, via a WNO email, of an initiative to transmit live and recorded online performances from European opera houses. Fifteen opera houses, including most of the major European houses, are participating in the programme, which is funded by the European Commission:

http://www.theoperaplatform.eu/en/partner/list

The first opera to be broadcast is Verdi's La Traviata from Madrid's Teatro Real in the production directed by David McVicar. This will be broadcast tomorrow night, Friday 8th May, at 19.55 CET. The ROH's Król Roger which has been discussed on another thread here is to be broadcast the following Saturday 16th May at 19.00 CET:

http://www.theoperaplatform.eu/en/upcoming

Sounds excellent., thanks for the heads up, Aeolium.

i didn't get the email, even though I think I am on the WNO lists.

Just the sort of thing that will have the internet consuming the nations entire energy supply in the future, if recent reports are to be believed......which I don't think they should be.

[doversoul1]

Many thanks for posting the links. It looks almost too good to be true. Seeing the logo of Arte, I hope we’ll be able to watch some rarely performed Baroque operas.

[Pianorak]

Thanks for posting the link. Don't forget La Traviata from Madrid tonight at 7pm (BST)

[teamsaint]

good quality stream, as far as I can judge, watching on a laptop with awful speakers.

a wealth of close ups too. promising.

I really want to go to this opera house !!

[Stanfordian]

I'm enjoying it too. A decent stream up to now. No buffering as yet. Fingers crossed!

Juan Jesús Rodríguez with Germont's aria 'Provenza il mar, il suol chi dal cor ti cancellò?' was the best I've ever heard it sung.

[teamsaint]

Just to state the obvious, this was the same production that the WNO did last year, and very enjoyable that was.

If this standard keeps up, I"ll have to buy a 52 inch widescreen cinema surround smart TV type thing.

[aeolium]

Just a reminder that this month's opera transmission (presumably recorded) on the EU Opera Platform is Handel's Alcina, directed by Katie Mitchell from the Festival Aix-en-Provence, next Friday 10 July at 2215 CET, so 9.15 pm BST:

http://www.theoperaplatform.eu/en

Patricia Petibon is in the title role, and Philippe Jaroussky is Ruggiero. I think the performance will also be available to view on demand for a period (perhaps a month).

There are also a number of opera performances from previous broadcasts available to view.

[Stanfordian]

Just a reminder that tonight this completely free platform is streaming Handel's opera Alcina live and in full from the Festival Aix-en-Provence at 9.15pm (22h15 CET).

http://www.theoperaplatform.eu/en/opera/handel-alcina

[doversoul1]

Thank you for the reminder.

What an amazing treble this Oberto is. He is not just an excellent boy soprano but an opera singer.

I find the contrast between young and beautiful in the spotlight, and old and ugly in the murky darkness quite off putting and rather silly. An old enchantress isn’t elderly, she is old; literally (almost) as old as hills and when her magic power leaves her, she crumbles to dust with all her enchanted island. Yes, I know directors can ‘interpret’ it as anything they like but when ‘old’ is seen as ‘elderly’ (and what’s WRONG with women being elderly?!) the sense of wonder which is (to me) the essence of the tale goes out. In its place, detailed actions fill the gaps in the original narrative, so much so that the music almost becomes secondary. Some of the detailed actions accompanying arias made me feel as if the arias would never end. The case of ‘better with eyes closed’.

With Baroque operas, I prefer more respect to the original tales. Still, I enjoyed much of the singing / music.

Maybe this should be on the Opera Production thread.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?11730-Opera-Production&p=490123#post490123

[aeolium]

What an amazing treble this Oberto is. He is not just an excellent boy soprano but an opera singer.

Yes, astonishing, and I thought there was some really excellent singing throughout the cast in for me one of Handel's greatest opera scores. When you hear music like this you can understand why Beethoven bent his knee in his honour.

Maybe this should be on the Opera Production thread.

I won't be there. I have decided never again to comment on any opera production I don't admire.

[DracoM]

Agreed - an amazing Oberto. Heard voice before I saw singer. Gobsmacked.

[ardcarp]

I didn't realise you could see a whole opera free online. Amazing. I was transfixed, even though I have some reservations (along the lines of dovers') about the production. I know operas are often time-and-place-shifted, but the wheeling around of stuffed animals on trolleys plus the gyrating on double beds and sofas seemed a little too far out.

Up to circa 1960, it was generally thought that Baroque Opera 'could not be staged', mainly, I suppose, because of the DC Aria format. Then Anthony Lewis, Raymond Leppard and others did it to huge acclaim with artists such as Janet Baker and Maureen Lehane. The 'static' production style of these early re-stagings, far from being boring, held audiences (well, certainly me anyway) transfixed. Any views?

What a star cast this Alcina had. Wonderful singing...and playing.

[Prommer]

I have just been informed, via a WNO email, of an initiative to transmit live and recorded online performances from European opera houses. Fifteen opera houses, including most of the major European houses, are participating in the programme, which is funded by the European Commission

Good heavens! I have found a reason to applaud the European Commission... A bit selfish of me perhaps, given certain other priorities though.

[ardcarp]

I should think Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή will be glad for any handouts they can get. Interesting they are playing Orpheus in the Underworld at the moment. Maybe a case of can-can rather than can't-can't?

http://www.nationalopera.gr/