Comments on: Bringing Manon to the Movies http://blog.metoperafamily.org/metopera/2008/02/16/bringing-manon-to-the-movies/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:00:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Anne http://blog.metoperafamily.org/metopera/2008/02/16/bringing-manon-to-the-movies/#comment-1036 Anne Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:57:20 +0000 http://blog.metoperafamily.org/metopera/2008/02/16/bringing-manon-to-the-movies/#comment-1036 Enjoyed the HD performance yesterday in movie theater in downtown San Franciso. Almost-full house of very appreciative opera lovers. My only quibble is that cameras should NOT spend so much time focused closely on MOUTHS and faces of singers ! The entire magnificent production is given too little exposure. I would prefer a view of the stage that more closely resembles what one would see from the best seats in the house--with occasional appropriate close ups at critical moments. Enjoy very much behind-the-curtain features-- Renee Fleming is a national treasure. Enjoyed the HD performance yesterday in movie theater in downtown San Franciso. Almost-full house of very appreciative opera lovers.

My only quibble is that cameras should NOT spend so much time focused closely on MOUTHS and faces of singers ! The entire magnificent production is given too little exposure. I would prefer a view of the stage that more closely resembles what one would see from the best seats in the house–with occasional appropriate close ups at critical moments. Enjoy very much behind-the-curtain features– Renee Fleming is a national treasure.

]]> By: charles http://blog.metoperafamily.org/metopera/2008/02/16/bringing-manon-to-the-movies/#comment-1035 charles Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:32:28 +0000 http://blog.metoperafamily.org/metopera/2008/02/16/bringing-manon-to-the-movies/#comment-1035 We saw "Manon Lescaut" today and throughly enjoyed the music and the costumes. Both Ms.Mattila and Mr. Giordani have beautiful and strong voices. I feel sure that they appeared to fit the roles from the distance of the audience. That being said, they did not come off so well in the very closeup shots of the HD broadcast. The Met can't use a Hollywood format and not have singer-actors who can convincingly appear to be the character. It was a real stretch to imagine these two as being college age and innocent. The camera needs to either stay futher away, or use a lens that gives the image a softer touch. All in all, it was still an enjoyable production. We saw “Manon Lescaut” today and throughly enjoyed the music and the costumes. Both Ms.Mattila and Mr. Giordani have beautiful and strong voices. I feel sure that they appeared to fit the roles from the distance of the audience. That being said, they did not come off so well in the very closeup shots of the HD broadcast.
The Met can’t use a Hollywood format and not have singer-actors who can convincingly appear to be the character. It was a real stretch to imagine these two as being college age and innocent. The camera needs to either stay futher away, or use a lens that gives the image a softer touch. All in all, it was still an enjoyable production.

]]>