Sad History in 5 mins: This Might Be The Last Met Opera Broadcast

Today's broadcast of Wagner's Götterdämmerung (12PM EDT, 9AM PDT) may be the final Met radio broadcast, ever.

The broadcasts have been on the air continuously since 1931, and, since 1940, have been supported by a single benefactor, Texaco.

But last year, Texaco/Chevron decided that the $3MM per year they spent on the broadcasts was better used in dividends paid to its shareholders. In other words, about three seconds worth of chump change at the pump for Texaco was better used giving an extra .0000001¢ in dividend on each share of stock (not exact figures, but you get the point) than bringing free culture to millions of people worldwide. Or as Texaco put it:

"Chevron Texaco has had a tremendously rewarding relationship with the Metropolitan Opera, which is a world-class cultural treasure," Patricia E. Yarrington, ChevronTexaco's vice president for public and government affairs, said in a statement. "However, as our business has evolved, we believe it is important to focus more of our resources directly with the countries and markets where we do business, with an additional emphasis on addressing pressing development needs in those communities."

The Met is scrambling to come up with other sources of funding to continue the broadcasts next year, but I understand that is tough going.

So, if you want to be a part of history, tune in today. Catch the live stream at: http://www.wqxr.com/cgi-bin/iowa/air/listen/index.html

BTW - a very, very close friend of mine - Jon Frederic West - will be singing the rôle of Siegfried in today's broadcast.

the triumph is of business and corporate greed at the expenseof all others!A slightly different version of tax cuts for the rich. This is very sad.

Many pleasant memories of the opera on Saturdays.My aunt was an opera buff and she always had the opera on when we visited as children in the forties,which we did every week.

which translates to "Twilight of the Gods."

Indeed!

n/t

and may triumphant Rhinemaidens drag the executives who made this cockamamie decision down to a watery grave. :grr: