Actor Timothee Chalamet caught flak for speaking the truth about arts
Posted by Potomac on March 9, 2026, 15:36:57
From WSJ article. He said that "no one cares" about opera and ballet. Close enough. Those continue in permanent decline because almost nobody cares, and donors are getting even scarcer.
"Overall opera attendance took a hit during Covid, and it has not yet bounced back in the U.S. In 2017, 2.2% of American adults said they caught an opera during the year, according to a study from the National Endowment for the Arts; five years later, that number dipped to .7%. Ballet viewership also dropped from 3.1% to 2% over the same period.
I have probably seen my last ballet or opera unless one of my granddaughters performs in some kids' production like Nutcracker. Professional level? Sorry, I'm out. Stage drama or musical theater can still work for me, along with energetic live music.
The closest I've come to opera in decades was Phantom of the Opera on stage.
Annual budget is over $300M! Depleting their endowment, support is down, etc.
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From WSJ article. He said that "no one cares" about opera and ballet . Close enough. Those continue in permanent decline because almost nobody cares, and donors are getting even scarcer.
"Overall opera attendance took a hit during Covid, and it has not yet bounced back in the U.S. In 2017, 2.2% of American adults said they caught an opera during the year, according to a study from the National Endowment for the Arts; five years later, that number dipped to .7%. Ballet viewership also dropped from 3.1% to 2% over the same period.
I have probably seen my last ballet or opera unless one of my granddaughters performs in some kids' production like Nutcracker. Professional level? Sorry, I'm out. Stage drama or musical theater can still work for me, along with energetic live music.
The closest I've come to opera in decades was Phantom of the Opera on stage.
Free concerts at Pritzker Pavillion that let you hear things multiple times so you get locked in
are the best hope IMO. Listen to this three times and you’ll notice each time gets better:
?si=LP8XFRqzSr-v8Zhj
I like this version because it’s two minutes and they don’t dawdle (also subtitled). Listening to the Maria Callas version driving past Puccini’s home town looking at mountains of Carrara Marble was a highlight of our trip to Italy last year (way better than watching the Washington game at a bar in Rome yelling “BLITZ!”).
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From WSJ article. He said that "no one cares" about opera and ballet . Close enough. Those continue in permanent decline because almost nobody cares, and donors are getting even scarcer.
"Overall opera attendance took a hit during Covid, and it has not yet bounced back in the U.S. In 2017, 2.2% of American adults said they caught an opera during the year, according to a study from the National Endowment for the Arts; five years later, that number dipped to .7%. Ballet viewership also dropped from 3.1% to 2% over the same period.
I have probably seen my last ballet or opera unless one of my granddaughters performs in some kids' production like Nutcracker. Professional level? Sorry, I'm out. Stage drama or musical theater can still work for me, along with energetic live music.
The closest I've come to opera in decades was Phantom of the Opera on stage.
No, the best hope is an immediate cessation of the constant repetition of the West and its white
inhabitants as barbarians who have destroyed the planet and enslaved billions. You simply can't run the degree of ideological subversion that has been run on Europe and the United States and expect to foster continuing engagement with the classics of Western Civilization.
Comrade, the only musical worth seeing is Hamilton. The rest is the product of genocidal sociopaths. And if you do see anything else, it is important that BIPOC trans women receive proper representation in the orchestra and cast.
See? That's actually the problem with opera. Leftists have fucking destroyed it like they have destroyed everything else. Everyone should see at least one of the classics performed in a legendary venue by a talented cast. It's truly some of the greatest art that peoplekind has ever created.
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are the best hope IMO. Listen to this three times and you’ll notice each time gets better:
?si=LP8XFRqzSr-v8Zhj
I like this version because it’s two minutes and they don’t dawdle (also subtitled). Listening to the Maria Callas version driving past Puccini’s home town looking at mountains of Carrara Marble was a highlight of our trip to Italy last year (way better than watching the Washington game at a bar in Rome yelling “BLITZ!”).
Previous Message
From WSJ article. He said that "no one cares" about opera and ballet . Close enough. Those continue in permanent decline because almost nobody cares, and donors are getting even scarcer.
"Overall opera attendance took a hit during Covid, and it has not yet bounced back in the U.S. In 2017, 2.2% of American adults said they caught an opera during the year, according to a study from the National Endowment for the Arts; five years later, that number dipped to .7%. Ballet viewership also dropped from 3.1% to 2% over the same period.
I have probably seen my last ballet or opera unless one of my granddaughters performs in some kids' production like Nutcracker. Professional level? Sorry, I'm out. Stage drama or musical theater can still work for me, along with energetic live music.
The closest I've come to opera in decades was Phantom of the Opera on stage.
"Iowa women were better than Illini men" - Potomac
I still think a picnic in the park is better than the angst and it’s free- Leftists love free
of the masterworks that I care to see. The Torreador song from Carmen is a highwater mark of Western civilization, but I probably only like it because my brother was an extremely talented tenor and so I was able to tell just how ridiculously talented the guy playing Don Jose was.
But I only need to see that stuff once. I will take my son to one or two, maybe. Nah, he wouldn't like it.
Previous Message
From WSJ article. He said that "no one cares" about opera and ballet . Close enough. Those continue in permanent decline because almost nobody cares, and donors are getting even scarcer.
"Overall opera attendance took a hit during Covid, and it has not yet bounced back in the U.S. In 2017, 2.2% of American adults said they caught an opera during the year, according to a study from the National Endowment for the Arts; five years later, that number dipped to .7%. Ballet viewership also dropped from 3.1% to 2% over the same period.
I have probably seen my last ballet or opera unless one of my granddaughters performs in some kids' production like Nutcracker. Professional level? Sorry, I'm out. Stage drama or musical theater can still work for me, along with energetic live music.
The closest I've come to opera in decades was Phantom of the Opera on stage.
"Iowa women were better than Illini men" - Potomac
If I was visiting Italy, would I perhaps like to take in an opera performance?
on March 9, 2026, 15:36:57
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