An Evening of Puccini

Jonas Kaufmann: An Evening of Puccini

Live from La Scala, Milan (In a cinema near you) As the poster states.

 

It must have been a few years now since my husband Steve and I first went to the cinema in Chichester twelve miles away, for one of the exciting new, ‘Live from the New York Met Opera House’. The poster tempted the small time bathtub aria singer with the wording, ‘Direct to a cinema near you’. I seem to recall that that first one was presented by Renée Fleming who spoke of the story, orchestra, famous conductor, cast, set designers and the costumes.  During the interval there was a tour backstage. We thought at the time that it would be an idea that spread as easily as a child blowing the seeds from a dandelion clock. 

What a wonderful concept that was either a clever, cunning or generous concept. This was a way that ordinary people, who had never been to any of the world’s fantastic opera houses, would be able to, not just see inside, but be part of the audience. Apart from experiencing the next best thing to an actual visit to a world class venue, but to smile quietly because the extra thrill was, that you did not have to be rich and famous to buy a ticket since the normal cinema price was only raised a little bit above the normal entrance cost. 

Since that time, we have caught many of these huge treats for ordinary folk, who would never in a million years be able to afford to go to an actual live performance. One has to think that the first one was just an experiment to answer a number of questions from the board of directors. 

Was this a way to make a lot more money to be sunk into future productions?

Would it encourage more people to see if they could learn to like opera?

Would it allow ordinary working people to enjoy opera without the huge cost that is normally attached?

Would cinemas around the world be brave enough to try it? 

Many more questions must have been asked back then before the first bold step was taken. The first time we went, the very first time, the cinema was packed for that one live performance. Now, a new idea has fallen successfully into its natural place, the encore has arrived. Recently the little art house cinemas have joined in the game finding equal success when showing the big productions on two or three dates and various times slots to suit everybody. 

Our most recent tickets were bought to see Jonas Kaufmann in An Evening of Puccini from La Scala, Milan. I have no idea how many hundred euro’s one would have to fork out to go there. Flights, hotels, transport and of course posh clothes, there would be no turning up in jeans and a shirt there. 

We just had to drive eight miles to the Connaught Theatre in Worthing. There was a delightful and informative interview with Jonas before the filmed live concert started. Then alternately there was an orchestral piece from the simply massive amount of musicians or an aria from Jonas. 

I think that opera came to full bloom with the wonderful Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, our own Bryn Terfel and so many other greats, but, I feel that with Jonas Kaufmann we have a new hybrid, a new form, a new breed. This man is something more special even that those former opera greats. Even whilst performing music, one aria at a time, plucked out of the middle of an opera, he can plunge himself into the heart and soul of that character in that opera with such skill that it takes your breath away. He is as great an actor as he is a singer, and heart meltingly handsome. I hesitated before saying that because it sounds a little wet, but its true he is very presentable indeed, every bit the leading man he is playing.  The ultimate in operatic performance.