A massive opera gala made with mobile phones

A screengrab of the Metropolitan Opera’s chorus and orchestra members rehearsing via livestream. PHOTO: NYTIMES
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NEW YORK • "Is this enough light?" asked baritone Peter Mattei.

He was in the living room of his home outside Stockholm, speaking over Skype with a small group of Metropolitan Opera staff who were giving him directions to prepare for the company's At-Home Gala on Saturday last week - a worldwide relay of livestreamed performances that, in contrast to opera's usual grandeur, was filmed using only household devices.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 29, 2020, with the headline A massive opera gala made with mobile phones. Subscribe