Live relays from the met

[Guest]

There are a couple of things that intrigue me about these broadcasts.
(1) If my maths (perhaps I should say math in this case) and geography are correct, a 5.30 p.m. start here means an 11.30 a.m. start in New York
(2) How does the Met manage/how can it afford to come up with a different production every Saturday?

[teamsaint]

regarding point 2, perhaps they use a lot of work experience kids to keep costs down ?!

[Flosshilde]

This article makes interesting reading - the Met's turnover is £208 million, about double Royal Opera & Ballet's combined turnover of £106m. Live relays will make £6-7 million. Most of the productions are heavily subsidised by rich Americans (who get tax breaks for doing so) or their trust funds.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/dec/08/opera-big-screen-peter-gelb

According to their website they have 20+ productions this season!

The matinees (the performances that are broadcast) seem to start at 1.00, according to the website

[johnb]

(1) If my maths (perhaps I should say math in this case) and geography are correct, a 5.30 p.m. start here means an 11.30 a.m. start in New York

My understanding is that there is a 5 hour time difference between the UK and New York (EST), apart from the few weeks in spring and autumn when the changes to and from daylight saving time are out of synch. So a 5:30pm start in the UK would mean a 12:30pm start in New York.

[Norfolk Born]

You're right, of course ...but 12.30 still seems a bit early.

[Flosshilde]

Ahem - see my post above.

The broadcast always has a fair amount of chat before the music starts, plus an advert break, so a 1.00pm New York time for the music beginning would allow for chat etc between 5.30 (our time) when the broadcast starts, & about 6.00 when the actual music starts.

The finish (their time) is abou 4.00 - 4.30, allowing time for the set to be struck & the sets for the evening's opera to be put in place for 7.30/8.00

In fact, looking at the schedule for December, the matinee/broadcast of La fille du regiment starts at 12.00 (their time) - presumably to allow for Hansel und Gretel to start at 6.30.