The New York City experience came to downtown Moscow in a live stream performance of “Roméo et Juliette” Saturday at the Kenworthy Theater.
The live stream was provided by the Met Opera House in Manhattan allowing Moscow audiences to join the thousands of viewers worldwide.
The experience provides unique entertainment to the Palouse, director of operations Jamie Hill said.
“We are the place where people know they can find entertainment that they won’t find anywhere else on the Palouse,” Hill said.
Brie Slavens | Argonaut
Community members wait outside for the showing of the Met’s Opera Romeo et Juliette
The Met Live in HD productions provides affordable entertainment Scott Eckberg said, a frequent attendee of the event.
“I enjoy this because you have the best seats in the house, and you can’t beat the price, $20 to see world class opera in Moscow,” Scott Eckberg said.
Willemina Kardong, an avid opera fan, helped fundraise for some of the equipment required for the theater to host live stream. She also coordinated between the Met and Kenworthy working to get the Met to Moscow.
“This is the top level of a sort of cultural entertainment because opera has it all, it’s got the music, it’s got beautiful voices singing, it’s got sets, it’s got dancing … It’s the ultimate, really, art form,” Kardong said.
She said the Moscow community are avid supporters of the arts through all levels — theater, symphony, live plays.
Guest speaker Louis Perraud gave a brief summary of the story line and said the performance never fails to thrill him before the screening began and the chemistry between the two main soloists.
“The main thing everybody noticed was, uh, the unusual power and commitment of the two soloists…. it’s very well put together and directed and it’s very effective for that reason,” Perraud said.
SpectatorEckberg said he enjoys visiting the Kenworthy Theater for all of the Met operas and the production of “Roméo et Juliette”.
“It’s timeless … (the audience) purely enjoys the performance and they understand that they click,” Eckberg said.
Hill said they are currently planning the new season for 2017-2018.
For more information on the Met Live in HD productions at the Kenworthy Theater, visit http://kenworthy.org/about/.
Brie Slavens can be reached at [email protected]