Living in New York, one is surrounded by culture at every corner. You have art galleries abounding, Broadway, dance companies, opera companies, and that's just the start of it. The arts can exist anywhere, but they need an audience; they need people that appreciate and understand them. They need undying supporters, they need critics. The arts could be looked at as one of the most complex businesses in the world. You have major arts followings all around the world, and Europe always comes to mind as the Mecca of it all; but what about the US? In a country with many budding cities, is New York still the cultural center of the United States?
In a city as big as New York, the answer should be obvious. Of course New York is the epicenter of culture in the US! It's the greatest city in the world! But is that just what it is? The OBVIOUS answer? Let's consider a bit. Note: I do not claim to be an expert on this subject. I will merely take a stab at analyzing the situation from the perspective of someone who is very involved in the arts in several aspects of his life.
Let me get some of the obvious fields out in the open very quickly, and then I will dive deeper into the field which I am more familiar with: opera. I think it goes without saying that when you think of the arts in NYC, you think of Broadway. You have plays and musicals, on broadway, off broadway, off OFF broadway; the levels of professional theater seem endless in NYC. You have dance companies such as New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance, the American Ballet Theatre which takes residence at the Met during the summer. You have Carnegie Hall, Museum Row, and Lincoln Center! New York seems to have it all. But what about other areas in the country?
The United States seem to constantly be booming with the arts. Celebrities are constantly speaking out in support of keeping the arts in schools. In the time of recession when the government is pulling funding for arts programs in schools, more professional companies seem to be taking measures to expand their programming, do more outreach to schools; they are trying to supplement the arts education of America's youth to ensure the exponential thriving of the arts in the future. This is really present in most major cities in the US, most "cultural centers."
But again we come back to the question, is New York the biggest?
In reference to the opera world, of course it is. Where else could be? That is not to diminish opera in any other city in the US, but simply the volume of access to the art in many forms both big and small helps indicate this. You of course have the Metropolitan Opera. This is pretty undisputedly the most well known opera house in the US, and one of the most well known in the world. You have additionally New York City Opera, which may be struggling at the moment, but is certainly a well known company in New York under the past leadership of operatic legend Beverly Sills.
In addition to these opera houses, you have Manhattan School of Music, NYU, Mannes School of Music, and of course we can't forget Juilliard and the Juilliard Opera Center where even Renee Fleming did some studies. Next you have many smaller and even small scale companies: Amore Opera, Amato Opera, the Martha Cardona Opera Theatre, the Metropolis Opera Project, Chelsea Opera...there are way too many to list, but all these companies have audiences. Where else in the US would you find the extreme variety and varying levels of professionalism all supported as in NY?
I think the key is not just in the sheer population and enormity of New York, but the key lies rather in the glamour and prestige of being "in the know". New Yorkers love being fabulous. They pride themselves on always looking their best, on knowing the best restaurants, and also, on being involved in the arts. It has become "trendy" in New York to donate to the arts, to attend the performances and know who is singing in what and how they sound. Opening Night at the Metropolitan Opera is a black tie red carpet affair complete with paparazzi and celebrities among Oprah, Martha Stewart, Renee Fleming (even if she's not singing). To be a supporter and appreciator of the opera is a status symbol, and New York is all about showing your status.
This is certainly not to say that New Yorkers do not frequent the arts out of appreciation; they absolutely do. There is nothing more reassuring, as a singer myself, than to the see the overwhelming joy and excitement coming from audience members after a performance that they are moved by. To know that you are affecting (or the other singers are) these audience members makes it all worthwhile, and really shows their appreciation and knowledge of your audience.
New Yorkers have seen it all. We have all seen Tosca and Traviata, Boheme and Carmen. We love them, and still go to them whenever the chance is presented. What I love most about New York is the variety of operas that you are able to see. From The Nose to Der Vampyr, Dark Sisters to A Streetcar Named Desire in concert, all the way to a rare Rossini double bill, New York provides the variety of opera to inerest a new comer and also to keep the love of a long time opera goer fresh and excited.
I could go on all day about the thriving arts scene in New York. I never find myself bored with the options at my finger tips, but rather more frequently frustrated that there are so many exciting prospects for my evening, but I can chose only one.
At the end of the day though, I find the most important aspect to be that people are excited about the arts. This is no competition! Certainly we can be more excited about all of the different seasons we can subscribe to in New York, but the fact that the topic of this blog is even relevant today is very exciting. We must all ban together and SUPPORT one another! It is so important to spread the awareness and appreciation of the arts in all of its mediums. To think of a world without the arts, to me, is to think of a world devoid of meaning. The arts are such a therapeutic outlet for so many performers and audience members; it joys me to talk to people who are so moved by them from conductors and major patrons all the way down to a candid audience member's reaction after their very first time at the opera.
With all of these inspiring options in New York and across the rest of the country, it really leads one to wonder the bigger question: why aren't more areas in the US working to spread the awareness and appreciation of such a monumentally affecting aspect of society?
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