<p>Did you all just love when one of the met people said that “If they sing well but are as boring as bat ****…we don’t care about them”…They said vocals were most important…but really necessary to convey the message…make the audience a part of it…Those kids just have to be able to act…that is why we have not only looked for programs that will train DD to sing but also programs strong in acting skills</p>
<p>Alek Schraeder is at Juilliard.</p>
<p>It was a really fine film. It did everything a good documentary should do. I found myself holding my breath as the winners were announced.</p>
<p>Worth watching on so many levels.</p>
<p>We had to pay $20 a ticket. (Everything else at the theater was $10.50.) Was that everywhere? or is is just part of the North Jersey rip-off?</p>
<p>We paid $15 + $2 Fandango charge at King of Prussia. I’m glad we sprung for Fandango. The place was sold out even though the Philadelphia Inquirer article didn’t list it as a venue.</p>
<p>Rochester was a bargain at $15(inc.the service charge)! The theatre was about 80% full, with my D being the youngest in there and me the next- that felt GOOD!</p>
<p>We were about 80% full too! – a beautiful sea of white, silver and blue hair (of those that had hair.) </p>
<p>It was mentioned in the film that the average age of the MET audience has gone from 60 to 65 in recent years. Scary thought.</p>
<p>Sounds like I really missed it! Here’s hoping that it will be on PBS in the near future!</p>
<p>Many people are very surprised to hear the names of the colleges represented by the Met winners. Every year, I find, more often than not, that the finalists and winners graduated from schools that I know nothing about. Examples are: </p>
<p>Angela Meade - Pacific Lutheran</p>
<p>D</p>
<p>Jennifer Johnson, a Rice graduate student, who was a winner last year went to Webster as an undergraduate. She is now in the MET young artist program.</p>
<p>Erin Wall (soprano), who had her MET debut last week, did her undergrad at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA.</p>
<p>I thought they did a wonderful job on the film and there was some serious talent on the stage that year - more than this year in my opinion! It was so sad about Ryan Smith but boy did he make his dreams come true. Alek Shrader was amazing and my daughter really enjoyed his performance on many levels, lol. How precious his telling himself before singing his 9 high C’s in “Ah! Mes Amis”, that “I’m a tiger, I’m a tiger.” And to think he decided to do that aria without ever performing it before during the week between the semis and finals - that took alot of guts! And boy did he nail it! I loved the intensity of 22 year old Michael Fabbiano although I would imagine his personality makes people either love or hate him. I loved Angela Meade’s voice and can see why she wins competition after competition, even though she was quite off on one of her arias.</p>
<p>What really comes across is the fact that the Met is so behind these young singers - such a positive, nurturing atmosphere! </p>
<p>Amazing that the year Renee Fleming won, Susan Graham won as well as Ben Heppner and Patricia Racette - talk about a powerhouse year! Renee did a wonderful job with the questions and answers at the end and she is looking alittle too thin - she’s all eyes now and not in a good way! As usual, I loved Thomas Hampson’s wit and intelligence. I especially loved that they all reinforced that you are really competing with yourself, not with the others. It was sad, yet I guess understandable, how most of the finalists felt otherwise.</p>
<p>Alec is also an Oberlin alum…I think he got his artists diploma there…not exactly sure, but he was older then most of the other students when he was there. He’s extremely talented…(obviously), and very good looking. For sure he is one to watch!</p>
<p>I misspelled Alek’s name as Alex. He is a double Oberlin grad I believe.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great research job, cartera!!</p>
<p>I know I’m way late jumping in here, after all has been discussed, but …</p>
<p>We LOVED this film. I brought two of my teenagers, a viola player and an aspiring opera singer. We were all captivated, from start to finish. The behind the scenes look at the process was priceless! What a great opportunity for any kid who dreams of being an opera singer. My son said he felt sick at times, watching, vicariously sensing the sort of panic the singers felt. At the end of the film, during their commentary, the three professional opera stars mentioned having the same feeling while they watched the film. I guess that gut-wrenching experience is just part of the ride if you choose to sing opera for a living. On the other hand, my son felt so lucky that he was able to have this insider’s peek at his desired career at the very beginning of the journey. Fascinating stuff! I’m so glad we went!</p>
<p>I told my D that I’d try to find this film on DVD someday and she should watch it about once a year just try and retain all the sage advise that is dispensed throughout the film.</p>
<p>PBS will be airing it this fall.</p>
<p>For those of you so inclined…this is on PBS Wed night (1/20) “Great Performances”</p>
<p>I will be front and center. I was not able to go to the theater to see it last spring and have been monitoring PBS’s website waiting for it it. I am very excited to see it!</p>
<p>Check your local PBS listings because it is not on on Wednesday in all locations. Also, this film is now available for purchase on DVD:
[Metropolitan</a> Opera](<a href=“http://www.metoperashop.org/product/detail/1000003764.aspx]Metropolitan”>http://www.metoperashop.org/product/detail/1000003764.aspx)</p>