Opera Night in Uzès
This weekend “Il Trovatore” played at the Cinema in Uzès. If you’ve attended an HD production of the Metropolitan Opera in your local theatre, you know how good it is. You have the best seats to hear and see the performance without paying the big bucks to be in Lincoln Center. If you live in or visit another country with an HD opera production, there’s another dimension to the experience. Join me for the opera in Uzès.
Anna Netrebko, the heroine Leonora, who sacrifices her life for the love of the troubadour, was superb, as was Yonghoon Lee, who played Manrico.
But it was Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Count di Luna who won our hearts. Before the beginning of the Met season, Hvorostovsky announced he had a brain tumor. He was never expected to perform again. Despite the seriousness of his illness, he was on stage for a most magnificent portrayal of the Count. The closeups of his face, which cameras the HD audience captured, showed he knew millions of viewers were watching. For a few seconds, he seemed to step out of his role to acknowledge the loud applause from the live viewers at the Met. You didn’t have to be there in person to feel the love and admiration.
The other dimension
The night’s experience for those attending New York may have been excellent; however, it couldn’t have been as interesting as in Uzès. The funky, retro Cinema was packed with enthusiastic opera lovers and lots of champagne!
It is France!
Like last year, it seemed a bit bizarre. An Italian opera performed live in New York, broadcast live at a cinema in Uzes — with French subtitles —
Serving sushi!
Here’s a review of last year’s performance of “Carmen” and more views of the Uzès movie house.
The opera and cast of Carmen
This “live” version of “Carmen,” in HD from the Met, was broadcast in the only Cinema in Uzes. As I watched the performance, I remembered other times when I heard the music from “Carmen.” I also thought of millions worldwide attending the HD event and me at their local theaters. Isn’t technology amazing!??
People who have seen an HD version of the Met operas have said how wonderful it is. Now that I’ve been to one myself, I have to agree. It’s the next best thing to sit in Lincoln Center.
The Cinema in Uzes
The only theater in Uzès is on a narrow street that runs into the town’s main “rue”. From the outside, the building looks like a theater straight out of a Woody Allen film.
The inside isn’t much different.
This Cinema has “do-it-yourself” popcorn and bizarre candy machines.
The most exciting thing is that you can order a meal to be served during intermission.
The menu
Wine, beer, champagne, and other drinks of your liking, of course.
Love Carmen! Love the Cinema!
The Met performance of “Carmen” was a unique experience. Now that I know that meals and drinks are available for most nightly theater shows, I know I’ll be back! If you’re in Uzès, the Cinema is a place to check out. There are several films with English subtitles each week. Or, if you’re trying to learn French, going to a show with French subtitles is an interesting way to practice reading the language.
