From the point of view of audience appeal, I don’t know whether it was a good idea or not to have opera stars be hosts for the Met’s HD telecasts. But it’s certainly fascinating to watch their on-camera schmoozing. They are are still not very good at it-clearly feeling their way. These are people–mostly women it seems-who are extraordinarily skilled at one type of “act,” now being asked to try a completely different performance art.
But surely their handlers might advise them to get a little coaching if they haven’t already. They are still visibly self-concious before the camera. They do too much. Their presentation would profit by more graceful, less abrupt movements of head and hands. Definitely a more relaxed stance is required. Also, a less jittery rapport with their subjects–less jumping the gun before the subject has finished his/her reply, less interrupting. Overall a bit less flamboyance on the part of the divas-turned hostresses; cede the flamboyance to the star subject, and then when you’re being inerviewed because it’s your performance that’s being HD’d, be as flamboyant as you want. As well, some of them need wardrobe consultants. But their gutsy gameness to try this is courageous, and as I said, for me compelling.
So far I’ve only watched the HDS on TV – I may go to the Nov. 2 Bolena repeat telecast.