Tweet

Pin It

I absolutely love it when technology is able to enhance, improve, and make more accessible the traditional, cultural, and low tech aspects of our society. That’s exactly what the Metropolitan Opera in New York City is doing in the coming months.

The Met is geeking up to provide LIVE, HiDef simulcasts of operas to movie theaters throughout the WORLD. The simulcasts will give you a view of the opera that might best an in person viewing. There will be straightforward shots of hte opera with the necessary subtitles, but there will also be close-ups, shots from the wings, and dramatic camera work. I imagine it will be a truly unique cinema experience.

“The movie-theater initiative is made possible by new technology and is dependent upon movie theaters that have recently been outfitted with high-definition projection systems and satellite reception dishes. High definition provides a detailed image that is roughly equivalent to film.

Inside the Met, ten high-definition cameras are situated in various positions, including backstage, capturing the spectacle of the live performances and the behind-the-scenes action, including live dressing room interviews. Utilizing Dolby surround-sound, the high-definition images are transmitted into the digitally equipped movie theaters via five signals routed through four satellites, rivaling the logistics of a major sporting event broadcast.”

The showings will be a full length operas, intermission included, and absent the mega price tag and black tie optional, the experience should be quite similar to going to the opera. Tickets will go for $18; not your ordinary movie prices, but it sure beats the $100+ prices that the opera usually demands.

So non-New Yorkers everywhere!–throw on some jeans, grab your significant other, pony up for some popcorn (extra butter please!) and head out to see the nation’s greatest opera company. You no longer have an excuse to miss it.

Link (Metropolitan Opera WebSite)

For more US cultural oddities check out my blog at natdot.blogspot.com