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operanc
Posts:9
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Posted:02/06/2008 5:02 PM |
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How did you feel about our latest production being held in the Fletcher Opera Theater rather than Memorial Auditorium?
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| caper (guest) |
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Posted:02/06/2008 10:58 PM |
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I thought it worked very well. It gave a more intimate feel to the experience because one was so close the performers. For bel canto, I would imagine that a smaller venue is also easier for the performers to focus on their coloratura technique, as opposed to bellowing to the rafters (I witnessed the latter approach at the Met 'Lucia' earlier this season). Fletcher was certainly preferable to a larger venue with amplification like Memorial Auditorium. The other problem with Memorial is that it doesn't have doors to the auditorium, and some members of the audience wander in and out, like a baseball game, which is really distracting to those of us trying to stay connected to the onstage drama. However, this is Raleigh, not some uptight 'old-skool' venue so I'm trying not to fret too much about this, but I would be interested to hear the views of the performers on this topic.
The semi-staged Marriage of Figaro at Meymandi was exceeded my expections, and I would urge there the artistic team to think about what else would work there. I'll post my suggestions on another thread dealing with this subject (think Wagner with the symphony...)
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| Gina (guest) |
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Posted:02/06/2008 10:59 PM |
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From mid-balcony I could see (no binoculars required!) and hear. The emotional component of opera was better communicated/received and much appreciated in the smaller venue.
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| halnlil (guest) |
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Posted:02/11/2008 6:53 PM |
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Fletcher productions are hands down the best overall. The acoustics and intimate feel to the auditorium are outstanding. There is no comparison to Memorial and I prefer Fletcher to Meymandi for the operas. Any opera in Fletcher would be a winner for us.
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| Dan Hager (guest) |
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Posted:02/11/2008 11:47 PM |
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I sat in a box seat and I saw almost all of the angles. I couldn't have been more pleased about the intimacy of the venue. As an opera lover on a budget, I would like to see even more productions at the Fletcher.
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operanc
Posts:9
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Posted:02/12/2008 10:17 AM |
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I thought it was a great experience as well. We can't do all productions there for several reasons:
1) the pit is too small for the large orchestras that really should be used for some productions (particularly Puccini)
2) so few seats can be sold that it would make growth of the company very difficult to rely solely on Fletcher
3) being able to fill up a 2300 seat auditorium makes a statement in itself about the appeal of opera and the strength of the OCNC. The full house of La Boheme had a very charged atmosphere.
I love Fletcher. We are trying to redefine our business model to use it more. But that's easier said than done . . . these productions can be so expensive, and to scale down too much would risk the quality that you have come to expect of us in the past 11 years. This is a tricky business!
Frank
General Director
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| durham friend (guest) |
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Posted:02/12/2008 2:46 PM |
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My husband and I were disappointed in Lucia. The producation (staging, scenery)was stiff and the stage was too stark. More props and furniture would have helped soften the set. The members of the chorus sang well but no one was reacting to Lucia's plight and then her madness. Lucia did a fine job in the mad scene but getting little reaction from the rest of the actors meant that she was less convincing then she would have been had those around her registered more emotion. Also the main singers were not well matched in voice or character. Perhaps because Fletcher is a more intimate experience, these things were more noticeable.
We have come to expect great performances from Opera of North Carolina. We loved Turandot and the Barber. Lucia just did not measure up to those other performances.
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| jcg584 (guest) |
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Posted:02/14/2008 1:17 PM |
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Having see so many in large venues (28-3800 seats) this was a throwback, in a good way, to the old provincial houses in Italy. I felt the drama more with the proximity of the stage. Yourstar was a believable young woman with a promising soprano. It will be fun to watch what her future brings, if she studies. I'd prefer to see more opera at the Fletcher, but realize you need even more money than tickets usually provide, to use this theatre. And you would be missing all those other seats revenue. Looking forward to March 5 with you all. operamom
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| Frank (General Director) (guest) |
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Posted:02/15/2008 4:59 PM |
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Yes, Talise has a great future ahead of her. I hope we're a part of it.
The next production is April 5, not March 5 (else I'm in real trouble . . . !)
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| jetdaley (guest) |
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Posted:03/13/2008 2:07 PM |
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We really enjoyed the intimacy of Fletcher for Lucia and hope for more operas there, and after reading the previous comments I can understand and appreciate and well as agree with about everything said. Hopefully there will be times and operas for both venues.Some of us will show up for opera no matter where, and we certainly understand the dilemna regarding the revenue, so I suppose since it's basically about revenue and staying afloat we all know which venue will be mostly used. Thanks for trying different ideas.
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| Davey in Carrboro (guest) |
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Posted:07/15/2008 2:16 PM |
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I loved Fletcher, and again, I think it would be ideal for Handel operas. Plus, you would save a great deal of money on the orchestra, since the baroque operas have a much smaller orchestras. I think an ideal first Handel work there would be SEMELE, though any of Handels operas would be well suited there.
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