Opera For The People: La Traviata In Zurich's Central Train Station, Live on ARTE TV

Only in Switzerland you can orderly stage an opera in the middle of the city's central station the way Opernhaus Zurich did tonight. Eva Mei, Vittorio Grigolo, the Zurich Opera Orchestra conducted by Paolo Carignani have brought Traviata to the people, using various parts of the station as sets, while in an example of controlled chaos people walked by, stared at the madness of it all, took the singers' photos (the orchestra -- obviously the only static element of the production -- was placed on a platform in the middle of the center hall, while singers and the chorus moved around).

The audience/travelers reaction at the end of the show? Massive, unabashed enthusiasm and a never ending ovation that was still going on many minutes after the last note, when the broadcast ended -- each and every one of those people in the train station blissfully unaware of the much-discussed death of classical music, difficulty to understand opera, and general aloofness of nineteenth century musical theater.

Arte TV, probably the best TV station in the world, broadcast it live.

Opera Chic watched it, and you didn't.

More later, by0tches.

~*~

Plasma screenshots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[pee wee barnum]

Yeah that was on American TV as well.

JUST KIDDING! As if. We're too busy with baseball and reality TV over here.

I need to move there soon.

[Willym]

Never one to contradict a lady but: Yes I did ;-P.

We were just going to watch the first little bit but got caught up. It may not have been the best sung Traviata in the world but it was an experience. I'm not sure if the drunk by the wall during Sempre libra was a plant but ....

The BBC did an experimental opera in one of the main train stations in London back a few months ago and it worked extremely well. If I recall people were askd to learn the choral parts and come to the station prepared to join in.

I know I'm not in Ottawa anymore!

[Billy]

what's with them taking those lines down the octave, and vittorio breaking character to talk to the crew? that was a rehearsal i hope

[val]

I LOVED the idea and I thought the whole thing was a very interesting experience. Where can you be closer to the people than at the Railway Station?!

It's inovative, it's well sung, it fully uses television as a medium between this opera and the very large audience.

KUDOS TO ARTE!

[val]

Forgot to say that on the ARTE website you can see full 1h 36mins of this "La Traviatta"

http://plus7.arte.tv/fr/detailPage/1697660,CmC=2249022,scheduleId=2214424.html

It will be available during the next 7 days ONLY!

[Donna Anna]

This looks like an amazing event and I was impressed with Eva Mei and Vittorio Grigolo but when both of them opted out of the high notes, I wondered if this had to do with acoustic or was a conscious choice. It gave an appearance of a dress rehearsal but I hope there's a recording out there so I can get a sense of the entire piece. Bravi to Arte and the cast. What a great concept!!

[Opera Chic]

Billy, Donna Anna: the YouTube videos are from the dress rehearsal, I suppose they'll do a DVD or something. Of course, I'm sure people have DVR'd it already.

Val: your link works only from Germany and France, unfortunately

[rob]

As for Val's comments:

"Désolé, vous devez résider en Allemagne, France, Guadeloupe, Guyane Française, Martinique, La Réunion, Polynésie Française, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna, Mayotte, Nouvelle-Calédonie ou Territoires Français du Sud pour voir cette vidéo."

[val]

Ouch, I'm sorry guys :-(

Check the YouTube - I see many new vids added today.