{"id":6016,"date":"2012-09-08T08:16:09","date_gmt":"2012-09-08T12:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=6016"},"modified":"2012-09-08T08:16:09","modified_gmt":"2012-09-08T12:16:09","slug":"is-3d-a-frill-in-opera-and-concert-presentations-decide-for-yourself-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2012\/09\/08\/is-3d-a-frill-in-opera-and-concert-presentations-decide-for-yourself-this-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Is 3D a frill in opera and concert presentations? Decide for yourself this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja is part of today’s Last Night of the Proms festivities in London (Paul Zammit Cutajar photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s debatable whether classical music and opera are enhanced in a meaningful way by 3D presentations, but it’s worth checking it out in two very different forms at participating Cineplex theatres, starting with the famously energized Last Night of the Proms from Royal Albert Hall in London.<\/p>\n

LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The BBC Proms has to be the finest festival of classical music in the world, a summer-long affair that draws thousands into Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and ancillary venues, as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 3.<\/p>\n

The whole affair comes to its joyously crashing conclusion this evening (that 2:30 p.m. Eastern) in a three-and-a-half-hour concert featuring young British violin sensation Nicola Benedetti (playing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1<\/em>) and Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja (singing warhorse arias from Tosca and Turandot, Mario Lanza’s\u00a0 vintage hit “Be My Love,” as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone”).<\/p>\n

There are frothy orchestral solos for the BBC Symphony and conductor Jir\u00ed Belohl\u00e1vec, including the mandatory “Land of Hope and Glory” Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1<\/em> by Edward Elgar and C.H.H. Parry’s Jerusalem<\/em>.<\/p>\n

There are five Cineplex cinemas (closest to downtown is the SilverCity at Yonge and Englinton) hosting the live screenings in 3D, captured by eight cameras that will swirl amongst the performers and audience.<\/p>\n

You’ll find all the details here<\/a>. The concert will also be available in a free, live audio stream here,<\/a> starting at 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

MADAMA BUTTERFLY<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Royal Opera House tried it first with a colourful and busy production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen<\/em> two years ago. Now it’s back with 3D viewing using a spare, inward-focused new-in-2003 production of Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly<\/em> featuring James Valenti as Pinkerton and Liping Zhang as Butterfly.<\/p>\n

The real treat in this performance, captured in 2011, is conductor Andris Nelsons, who has never met a Puccini swell he can’t ride like a veteran surfer.<\/p>\n

The first screening was Wednesday, and there are three more left: Today and Monday at 7 p.m. as well as 12:30 p.m. on Sunday — at the same five Toronto-area cinemas.<\/p>\n

Check out the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AUDIO: A fine one-dimensional option<\/strong><\/p>\n

There’s plenty to listen to either online or on the radio this weekend.<\/p>\n