From: John Alexander Blyth
Subject: Re: Opera/Classical music too expensive?
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Had to jump into this already big pool: my tickets for the Met's Ring cost
about $360 something (four nights worth), and I'm ecstatic. My background is
greatly lower working class, and I was 15 before I even knew that there was
a classical radio station in my native Scotland. This music is as much *my*
music as it is the music of rich people. All this despite it being family
circle and 1400 miles away. I know people who have spent hugely more money
on hi fi, fancy cars, or an opportunity to lie on a distant beach. A group
of us drove 500 miles to hear Oscar Peterson play (he was amazing).
No, the real problem with opera (and classical music generally)
isn't the cost, it's that it has been marginalised in the general culture so
many sensitive people will never have a chance to find out how good it is!
*That* is what the problem is. john



... The section in front of
>the "Balcony Front" (the "Dress Circle"), was $100 for "Die Walkure"
>last summer. You can buy standing room tickets for $12, but standing
>for all of "Tosca" was exhausting -- I can't think what it would be
>like for Wagner! The student "rush" tickets, when available, are a
>good deal at $30. . . I try to get those.
...
John Blyth
Bass/Baritone (as opposed to Bass-Baritone) etc.
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada