How an opera gets made

Vox gets a peek behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera.
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Akhnaten is a modern opera by Philip Glass, first performed in 1984. It tells the story, through a minimalist and mesmerizing score, of the Egyptian pharaoh who is considered the first monotheist. Estelle follows the opera's lead, Anthony Roth Costanzo, through the various phases of rehearsal, from working with his vocal coach in a Manhattan apartment to taking the stage in a dress covered in doll heads, surrounded by jugglers.
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[@Vox]

Thanks so much for watching this video! At the beginning of the piece I show a few seconds of that six minute “Ah” scene which occurs during the second act of the opera. For video lab members, I’ve linked the entire sitzprobe rehearsal of that scene so you’ll get a better sense of how insanely challenging singing it is. Watch it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHSag4updqmEo8k Enjoy! - Estelle

[@julianachille3406]

I just watched the opera last month and it was amazing

[@franzhubertus7994]

Sitzprobe wird großgeschrieben.

[@vedantsridhar8378]

@@franzhubertus7994 Well Sitzprobe is also called sitzprobe in English. So since in English every common noun is not starting with a capital letter, they wrote it correctly

[@charpnatl]

There is something so magical about bringing a “show” to life. For me the planning, design, stage craft, rehearsal, blocking are of more interest to me than viewing the show as an audience member.

[@juno9023]

i love how all the costumes look super expensive and intricate but theres also a styrofoam hat

[@iagreewithyoubub]

I worked in the Met costume dept. for many years and everything is super expensive and intricate. Including that styrofoam hat.

[@sarahk5412]

We just did Hamlet at my college and I was working wardrobe. Not gonna lie, cast and wardrobe both looked at Gertrude's crown and said "She's wearing THAT???" It was primary colors and all satin cord. Looked like a Halloween toy... Until it was on stage and it popped - absolutely stunning. Stage costumes aren't meant to be seen up close, so a lot of weird stuff goes into making them. Also if you use the "right" material - for example, metal instead of foam - it can often come out looking wrong/cheap or else be the wrong weight/shape/size for the movement required by the part.

[@dumbpunk1165]

ok but baby robe thats a vibe i want

[@vedantsridhar8378]

I love how your comment has 2.1K likes but only 4 replies

[@danthemango]

To be fair, an authentic crown is actually super heavy and not very practical to perform in. Diamonds and gold are literally rocks and metal, it's exhausting to wear the real thing.

[@Apputhegreat12]

“Roughly the size of 12 Anthonys.” When vox is trying to be US-friendly.

[@GURken]

strange they didn't mention football fields

[@LOLHajimebilibili]

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[@bob-manuel]

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[@LOLHajimebilibili]

@@bob-manuel Huawei employee Li Hongyuan joined Huawei in 2005, but due to the discovery of the company's inverter business fraud, an internal report was made in November 2016. Huawei conducted an audit, the head of the replacement department changed the department, and at the same time he left! After he left office, he received 2N layoff compensation, 13 years of working experience, and negotiated compensation of 330,000 yuan, but in fact Huawei intentionally used Huawei HR's bank private account to transfer 300,000 yuan. Huawei then sued him for extortion. So Li Hongyuan was arrested and jailed for 251 days. This is a deliberately designed trap! Huawei intentionally used a private account to transfer money to him! Using this trap is to let Li Hongyuan go to jail!Currently, Huawei bans this incident on all our social platforms! So we can't help it! We can only post comments here! If you go seriously about this event! You will know that this is the scariest event of the year! Please help us! Please copy this message! Please forward this message! Stay tuned for this event! Please forward the news of this event! Better to make a video of this event! thank you! This is the last call for help! please!

[@Udontkno7]

Yes

[@user-gz1ej4ig1q]

High art is when you're totally naked, spend 3 whole minutes to go down 12 steps looking straight into 4000 people. And then you're like Ah Ah Ah the whole show.

[@TyzulaShipper183]

Staying alive staying alive

[@wolfie8012]

While contemplating your $120,000 banana-taped-to-the-wall-with-duck-tape art exposition!

[@user-gz1ej4ig1q]

@@wolfie8012 and then just CONSUME the art in front of the public

[@junogeronimo9422]

Hahahahahhaa

[@joshuasalem5022]

This is Anthony Roth Costanzo, also known as “Not Jeff Bezos”

[@SaxandRelax]

no comments?

[@gibby3350]

It’s the nice Jeff Bezos

[@sadface7457]

We need to write an opera about the private space race for him then

[@awabqureshi814]

This makes me actually want to go watch it

[@zauberfeenpferd8241]

and that's exactly why we should talk more about art... in a fun and enthusiastic way! :)

[@KristofferRisanger]

It's available for download/streaming too, I'm watching it now.

[@awabqureshi814]

Kristoffer Risanger nice, where?

[@KristofferRisanger]

Couldn't figure out where to pay for it (what a world eh?), but it's in the DHT network.

[@kf10147]

Kristoffer Risanger i havent been able to find it could you shoot me a link on twitter? V3x1ng

[@imageez]

Concept: The first monotheist Egyptian king and the story of egyptian afterlife Costume Designer: Elizabethian cage dress and baby heads

[@bethanyenfield6561]

Thats theatre babey

[@beatlemania8273]

This is a pretty recent opera. It's good to know they're developing new works and not just rehashing classics and beloved operas from the likes of Verdi and Puccini, but recent ones like this is pretty unknown to the general public.

[@dimitreze]

agreed

[@dianabuck7310]

LA Opera is pretty good about offering a mix of classics, forgotten gems, and newer compositions. I saw Akhnaten (modern), Tosca (classic), and Abduction From the Seraglio (forgotten gem) in the same year. They also did an incredible rendition of Orpheus and Eurydice with the Joffrey Ballet. Ballet and Opera should be together more often. They certainly used to be.

[@DiasYT]

ok boomer

[@6h7tbone2OOl]

Most opera in general is pretty unknown to the general public

[@JWFan221]

Beatle Mania it’s just a shame new operas are terrible and are just ridiculous money making spectacles with zero artistry. But of course the public doesn’t understand that, they just literally digest anything and think it’s good if it’s labeled as such, they can’t make up their own mind or have original thoughts.

[@firelizard2]

So, not only was this an interesting look at something I would probably never otherwise see, it was just straight up nice to see this dude very clearly living his best life. That's rad.

[@Sbeth85]

Yes, he had such a lightness to his energy, a lot of joy... And the natural light in his apartment is 👌

[@Dr_JSH]

@@Sbeth85 Your point (if there is one)?

[@Sbeth85]

@@Dr_JSH My point is pretty clear from the original comment.

[@snowballs7007]

The Met On Demand is where you can watch for a monthly subscription if you want.

[@howardbankler66]

Being in that rehearsal room looks stressful but magical

[@jacobbass6437]

Yes. It can get very intense. But that also comes from the fact that the conductor demands a lot from her musicians. And rightfully so, they are some of the top musicians in the world and can take her demands.

[@racoonzattack]

I would not mind seeing this same video but for other operas as well.

[@TheTrainmobile]

Walking out naked on stage in front of 4,000 people: 1000% level of stress

[@ZeacorZeppelin]

I saw the opera on November 30th, he was gorgeous

[@razzmatazz1974]

Opera Is a very stressful job i think. No place for mistakes

[@RianeBane]

"Ok, if you get nervous, just imagine all of the audience nake-...wait"

[@sudonim7552]

I like how when he talked about arpeggios, the background music followed along to his singing.

[@anavila5741]

It was the most satisfying thing ever omg

[@czarpeppers6250]

Brings back memories. When I was growing up my Dad was production manager for a number of different opera companies. There was one year that I wasn't in school (long story) and my Dad was raising me on his own so he brought me to work. There was a few productions I saw from start to finish; from the planning stages in the office, to the long night after the last show when the crew would pack up the set. It was certainly a far more educational experience than anything I would have learned in school that year. Even met the mayor of the city I lived in during one night back stage. But growing up around opera gave me an appreciation for it even when I was only 10. Carmen is probably my favorite. I remember there was this one security guard at the concert hall that use to play hide and seek with me in the massive dark lobby during the dress rehearsals and stuff. Good memories, anyway enough of me rambling to random people in KZbin comments.

[@Moglidor]

CzarPeppers cool story.

[@HansPeterLackner]

I really like your rambling. Do go on please :-)

[@kohlinoor]

That's really cool! I was in the children's chorus for an opera once, so this video helped me give a name to the various rehearsals, jobs, and people I remember. But to be behind the scenes of so many productions must've been indescribable!

[@madyjules]

so beautiful!! you definitely had an incredibly unique childhood thank you for sharing your memories with random people ( like me 😁 !)

[@dianabuck7310]

Having seen it, it really is breathtaking. The attack on the palace made my muscles hurt out of empathy. I swear it's a solid 15 minutes of people inchworm-ing their way across the floor.

[@katherinecraig618]

As an opera singer I love that Vox is concentrating on the behind the scenes that many don’t see.

[@haleyleyley8951]

Oh cool phillip glass Oh cool phillip glass Oh cool phillip glass Oh cool phillip glass Oh cool phillip glass

[@charlesenglander1392]

so true

[@aassyyssaa]

so true

[@tenchinhanu]

so treu

[@UltimateKyuubiFox]

Os tuer

[@noomithenymphasmr3937]

Ii love glass!!! hanks to classic sesame street, I would have never known about him **

[@EurasiaOnYT]

"If I told you, you're going to come see a minimalist three and a half hour opera about ancient Egypt where there's no real story and it's sung in ancient Egyptian, you'd think, man, there's no way I'm going to that." Ummmm...speak for yourself. That sounds awesome!!! Great video!!!

[@Bacopa68]

I saw this back in the eighties. It was great. Don't remember any jugglers. We did have brickmakers, wrestlers, and people winnowing wheat.

[@pabloplato]

@@Bacopa68 i think the juggling is new to this staging, it premiered in 2017.

[@razzmatazz1974]

I watched several early operas which are quite impopular today so i think i might get my chances with this one

[@ExMeroMotu9]

This comment sound like it was paid for.

[@crow-t-robot]

Right?? I want to see this opera really bad now.

[@k9spot1]

Anthony stole the show in this video what a cutie

[@noodlesnook]

i know, right? i love him.

[@nerdbrain396]

My choir got to go to the met last year. I just wanted to let the world know that it cost me 14 dollars to get an 8 oz cup of pepsi and a cookie during intermission.

[@vapidrabbit198]

yyyeah... but you kind of have to expect that at prominent theatres in major cities. what are you doing drinking coffee anyway? you were at the met... champaigne all the way!

[@vapidrabbit198]

SarahBear795 that’s no excuse.

[@writegirl422]

That's New York City for you.

[@clintonfiske4prez]

actually not a bad deal

[@sundawg911]

that is how they make their money and it's the same way with movie theatres. ticket cost goes to so many things and concession prices can be secure income to invest back into the theatre.

[@abi243]

Can’t believe this made me actually want to go and see an opera

[@gatsbysdead]

“Sing the word ‘Ah’ for 6 minutes straight” aka me watching after watching the news.

[@skister9905]

“Karen and Caren” The Karens are taking over opera!!!

[@iadtag1853]

an abundance of Karens

[@batshapedheart]

Alayna Burholt they're expanding from the accounting department

[@skister9905]

Javier Flores yes they are taking over

[@vergelvelasquez]

wait till they show the final boss Kharen

[@soberslaps1854]

Such a meme

[@elsaphillips7415]

I love this. Classical singing shouldbe an Olympic sport because it is such a physical thing. Perhaps we'll get more support for this magnificent art.

[@nedisahonkey]

Glad the opera you chose to highlight was by my favorite composer. I LOVE Phillip Glass and everything he makes with a passion. If anyone wants to hear a beautiful piano piece by him I recommend "Mad Rush".

[@noahhinton2657]

Vox’s videos are always cinematically and aesthetically pleasing and appealing but this one is on another level

[@balmainrichard1335]

It's no wonder why pirates listen to opera... I guess they love the high C's

[@slimestoneexpert9804]

.......

[@Jem_Apple]

😂😂😂

[@KnotNoxus]

Epic funny

[@khadijahmorgan556]

I dont get it

[@yc2877]

Khadijah Morgan the musical note “c”

[@TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs]

That was an interesting insight into theatre

[@TheChannelXY]

*Opera but yeah

[@juliusdsanchez]

@@TheChannelXY opera is also considered theatre

[@TheChannelXY]

@@juliusdsanchez i did not know that.. thx:)

[@androidynamit]

Dude i didn't know you enjoy this kind of documentary too

[@dihar5966]

hi Iron !

[@skazka3789]

Vox always answering my questions I never knew I had

[@haukekaninc2798]

So nice to see that Karen Kamensek made it to the met, she once was chief conducter at the opera in Hannover and did an excellent job there!

6:11 when the vocal conductor's positive reenforcement is "make it rain on em"

[@krisherrick4261]

Just got home from NYC specifically to see this once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece. Thank you Vox for inspiring the whole trip with this video!!!!!!

[@MdmERM]

Wow, opera is like an entire world that I had no exposure to at all. What a fascinating video! Thanks Vox for making it and thanks to everyone from the opera for letting them get such an in depth view to share with us all

[@Hoswendt]

The best musical experience in my lifetime

[@PracticallyProudmoore]

I love Akhnaten so much and I saw it at the movies a few weeks ago. Thank you so much Vox for posting this video and congratulations to the cast!

[@micheleg.coberesq.1981]

You forgot to mention the hundreds of hours of music rehearsal long before the sitzprobe. This is extremely difficult music and these extraordinary work very hard to learn and MEMORIZE it all. Bravo tutti. 👏🏾

[@benjaminmcintosh857]

Don't worry they do, 4:53

[@micheleg.coberesq.1981]

I heard that, but it’s much more than “weeks.”

[@benjaminmcintosh857]

@@micheleg.coberesq.1981 fair enough

[@AntonioCostaRealEstate]

Good to see how Vox handle its subject videos seriously. The editing is always on point, concise , interesting to view, with clever subject choices, and there is never a poster pointing out an editing flaw. There are so many contemporaries that botch the approached subject, whether through lack of in depth research, or by pressing a hidden agenda.

[@haoweishi1340]

Saw this production at the ENO, so amazing

[@AbnerIMAlvarado]

Me too. Had to spend a lot of money to come from Finland, but I regret nothing, it was a show for a lifetime.

[@robertwhittington7008]

This was one of the most fascinating operas that I have ever seen. It was a spectacular production.

[@Romandy13]

I want to watch this opera now. But I am both too broke and I don't even live anywhere near where this opera is played.

[@Skund79]

I'm from Germany and my cinema does "stream" (don't know what the right phrasing would be) from the metropolitan Opera

[@b3z3jm3nny]

Today, December 4, it gets live broadcast to movie theatres around the world!! I'm seeing it today at my local movie theatre; see if that's an option for you! :) It's via "Regal movie"

[@Romandy13]

@@b3z3jm3nny I just checked their website to see if it is possible that there are showings in my country. Turns out, there is none. :'') Thanks for letting me know anyway. Maybe if the show gets more traction, it will eventually come to my country.

[@b3z3jm3nny]

Doe aw I’m sorry for giving you false hope. At the very least you can listen to a (different production’s) recording on Spotify

[@CurtisStorm]

There’s a decent production from the University of Indiana here on KZbin you can look up, though I think it’s broken up into different videos.

[@chicken5068]

Thank you for making the video! Before this, i had never been exposed to operas other than by media’s depiction and seeing an overview of the process is amazing.

[@Sandra-et4tw]

Had the pleasure of listening to this via radio about a week or two ago and it's a pretty incredible opera, even without the visuals. Definitely cannot compare this to classic operas from old - they're equally wonderful but so different.

[@leecastillo20005]

Karen is a master conductor. This opera was the best. We saw it opening night. A work of art a masterpiece! Brava !

[@EmmaHollen]

All those people just seem *so nice*

[@BuddyL]

I've been a super with the SF Opera for nearly a decade. The process *never* ceases to amaze me.🎭

[@ErickTG]

Wow, this guy has an awesome energy! I don't know how to describe it.

[@emilsdanusevics9231]

Saw the opera, loved it!

[@wonderlanddreamer1021]

This is one of my favourite operas. It's really amazing.

[@taintedpills]

this is absolutely breathtaking and mesmerising and I love the theatre so much✨

[@cheers4life100]

opera is probably the one part of theatre/entertainment i haven't looked into at all, but after watching this video, i might just have to check it out.

[@mnmlst1]

The beauty of Philip Glass music is something out of this world.

[@ericspencer3169]

Saw Akhnaten a couple of weeks ago, great production design, amazing music, jaw dropping performances, gotta say, I was really impressed

[@PeterBarber]

Thanks so much for making this -- there needs to be more coverage of this amazing art form, and Vox totally nailed this mini-doc. Maybe a full-length one in the future?

[@pabloplato]

perfect timing vox, i'm getting hyped for my chance to see this (via stream) at the movie theater later this winter. can't wait!!

[@Bayplaces]

Seeing Glass' Einstein on the Beach remains one of the most mind blowing shows I've ever seen

[@mathuraadir7061]

I like the part when they say ‘ah’

[@oizys6381]

Anthony's smile is lovely

[@conversacionesconmipadre]

Magic without hard work can ever be accomplished. I wish so bad I could afford to go to new york and watch this opera.

[@YoniIsrael]

i love it how he is this big Opera star on the last days before the big show and yet he is so joyful i have a friend who plays in the Israeli Philharmonic and on the 3 days before a really big show you can't talk to him at all, he totally shut himself. after the show he the same old funny social guy that you'll want to eat Shawarma with

[@alicemorrison1518]

Thank you so much for making a video that I can show people when I am trying to explain how weird my favorite opera really is.

[@satriaamiluhur622]

Still wondering why opera always sounds so ominous and so final boss-like for me, regardless of the musical style

[@maxmilianmusic]

satria amiluhur “duel of the fates”

[@Elektronaut]

I had to pause this video for two hours to listen to an recording of Akhnaten after hearing the Ah ah part

[@Skyewalker1000]

I saw it last week in London. I've never enjoyed anything as much in my life. What an outstanding performance.

[@toric6005]

I’m going to the encore today!!!!!!!! Super looking forward to it!!!!!! So fun to see some behind the scenes stuff!!!

[@teethgrinder83]

Wow that's given me a whole new respect for opera

[@AVOWIRENEWS]

You're getting better every day Vox

[@vrixphillips]

saw the live stream at the theatre on wednesday

[@albiesnyder412]

That looked like a cool set would have liked to see more of that as well as the lighting m

[@sasasasasasasasasa]

That was a wonderful watch! Amazing

[@araw4569]

this opera seems mesmerizing!! thank you!

[@pedinurse1]

This opera is an experience like no other, STUNNING, takes you to another dimension!!!!!!!

[@amm9387]

Thank you so much. Please do more like this.

[@nathanpratt3058]

It sounds beautiful....

[@Litnig]

Incredible performance, saw it in London. Anthony is a real talent and Philip a genius of course.

[@supersadhero4647]

I went to the opera a few weeks ago and saw the ad. I really wish to go see it! Walking those red stairs is so iconic I love doing it every time I go

[@tatid6743]

This looks and sounds amazing

[@meij_musicenthusiast]

I would totally watch this opera lol

[@SaileeIvic]

Omg it looks so cool. I wanna see their performance!!

[@vf7vico]

Big thanks -- now I'm dying see this opera!

[@cliffclerval8149]

I recently saw this production production for the 2021 - 2022 Met Opera season and I was very impressed

[@wcsah]

This was so cool! So we’ll-done and made the subject both beautiful and interesting. Thank you!

[@MarxMark]

Thank you for making this! Loved it and learned a lot!

[@PogieJoe]

This looks stunning!

[@BPolachini]

This looks incredible I really want to see it

[@abbydimitrakis4712]

Im just now discovering this opera and am getting way too obsessed

[@Sailorchibbimoon]

this acctually looks so amazing

[@um_internacionalista]

just tremendously amazing

[@scottwilliams557]

Me: Watches the first 50 seconds. "Hmm. This sounds very reminiscent of Philip Glass" Video (0:57): "..an opera by Philip Glass" O_O

[@scottandrewhutchins]

Akhnaten! I love Phillip Glass.

[@leadrickpatterson6079]

I am astounded!!! I can’t wait to go and see this! 🤩😆

[@abhinavsaroha9059]

Fascinating. Interesting. Artful. Wonderful. Love it.

[@crispypoohs]

Thanks for this. I saw this last week and it really is amazing.

[@catvanburen2768]

I have never wanted to see an opera more than I have wanted to see this one right now!!!

[@JustNel]

This was great. Want to see this

[@imojeffes2827]

I saw this video a few years ago and decided if I ever got a chance to see it I would and I saw it last night at the English National Opera and it was one of the best things I have seen in my life! So pleased I came across this video otherwise it would have never been on my radar

[@pdzombie1906]

That was great, can't wait t see it in cinema through HD Live. Thanx!!!

[@unclvinny]

That’s bonkers, and I’d love to see it.

[@lara_xy]

I wish I could actually go there, this looks absolutely amazing

[@SolinoOruki]

This is brilliant. Thanks Vox

[@miriamakli799]

4:35 “Probe” means rehearsal 😅. “Try” in this case would be more like “Versuch”