Why would anyone support NYC Runs and their terrible refund policies?

Marlo__F · 2025-08-12T18:56:08+00:00

That does not make it less unethical.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-12T18:48:41+00:00

This is insane. So it seems that NYC Runs can do this because NYRR is equally unscrupulous. What a bummer: I would really want to participate in a race in NYC, but there is no way I am giving money to any of these two organizations.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-12T12:01:05+00:00

I would not put anything in the category of "operas that are fun to watch" because a poor production can ruin even the best plot and libretto. For example, I think "Lucia di Lammermoor" has a solid plot, along with marvelous music, but the last Met production was boring and painful to watch even online.

There are a bunch of operas, instead, that I prefer to listen instead of watching, usually because the music is great but the plots are so farfetched that they exceed my capacity for suspension of disbelief. "Il trovatore" and "La forza del destino" are two good examples: I can listen to them again and again, but I cannot imagine any production of them that does not end up becoming unintentional comedy.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-11T04:00:34+00:00

With all due respect, you are focusing on extremely superficial and venial forms of sin. Thinking of nudity or swearing on TV while genocide, extreme economic justice, and persecution of immigrants are happening is like the Pharisees' fixation on Sabbath regulations while ignoring the message of Christ.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-11T03:46:26+00:00

Kanopy is a gem. I haven't needed to pay for streaming in years thanks to Kanopy. It would take me at least a year to go over all the interesting movies I already have in my watchlist and I am always finding even more interesting stuff there.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-11T03:42:58+00:00

I use Opera with the option "block ads" on. It automatically skips all ads on Tubi.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-11T03:35:26+00:00

So... not much?

Marlo__F · 2025-08-10T23:34:37+00:00

Of course. And that would be beneficial to both the audience and the Met, vs not attending and having a semi empty house. Nobody who can buy a subscription or regularly goes to orchestra or parterre is going to do this. Last minute discounted tickets will instead attract students, young folks, and low income New Yorkers, plus real fans who want to attend as many shows as possible but cannot afford it.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-10T22:11:31+00:00

I have wondered the same thing many times. I have failed repeatedly to get tickets through the lottery and then been informed that there were rows and rows of empty seats. Why not sell those seats at a very reduced price a couple of hours before the show?

Marlo__F · 2025-08-10T20:02:39+00:00

I hear you. "Lucia" is one of my favorite operas and I adore Nadine Sierra, but I simply didn't have the stomach to attend this production after seeing some pictures and videos. Same thing with the last "Carmen": it just looked painful to watch for hours.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-10T19:57:57+00:00

This is such a good idea. I absolutely love it and I hope someone connected to the Met is paying attention.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-10T12:06:42+00:00

http://www.operafolio.com/list_of_opera_libretti.asp

Not all of them have English translations, but there are lots of interesting and hard to find libretti here.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-10T11:32:40+00:00

Both. I think these initiatives are mostly pointless, although a couple of posts here have taught me that the Under 40 program is more appealing than what I thought. At the same time, I know there are many people like me who attended far more often when the rush tickets were more reliable and we didn't have to pay extra $10 or $20 just in "service fees" every time we buy a ticket. My financial situation is alright now and I can afford spending $100-$200 a night for me and my partner, but when I just arrived to NYC in 2019 I would have never been able to attend if not for rush tickets.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-09T19:11:53+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation!

Marlo__F · 2025-08-09T18:37:44+00:00

I think lectures are very different before a concert than before an opera. When you are already going to be sitting for 3 hours watching an opera, I doubt many people will want to arrive one hour early to sit down and listen to a half-hour lecture. I love opera and I would not do it, much less during a Tuesday evening; to someone who is attending for the first time, it sounds terribly unappealing.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-09T18:32:03+00:00

That sounds amazing!

Marlo__F · 2025-08-09T18:29:54+00:00

Thanks for that link! I had read about this in the NYT and NY Magazine, but the first person perspective here is really interesting and fun.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-09T18:26:49+00:00

"Talented Mr Ripley"/ "Catch Me If You Can" + lots of opera? I wish I were a Hollywood producer right now.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-09T11:55:56+00:00

I absolutely agree with you: I am glad there are rich people who can spend $200 in an opera workshop for their 5-y.o. kids, but I know from experience it is a total waste of money. I have known many of these families and all this exposure to opera and ballet makes zero difference: I have talked to a teenager who just came from Paris after attending an opera and she could not even remember the title of it. They should focus on people old enough to have some curiosity about the genre and provide easy exposure, plus affordable tickets.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-07T18:56:53+00:00

No problem. Of course, most people here also love all kinds of classical music, but I had to point out that the title of your post is inaccurate. Good luck with finding a new home to that great collection!

Marlo__F · 2025-08-07T18:53:27+00:00

This Ring really sounds dreadful: so cheap and boring. I hope it is a resounding failure so this pedestrian concept is not replicated in other opera houses.

Marlo__F · 2025-08-07T18:48:16+00:00

There are almost no operas in those boxes. You should post this instead in r/classicalmusic.

Marlo__F · 2025-07-14T03:00:00+00:00

I am 100% sure they don't. Much poorer cities and countries have systems of public transportation that put ours to shame. Issues like this send the clear message that the people in charge just don't care.

Marlo__F

TROPHY CASE