More ideas to attract younger audiences

Everyone seems concerned about aging audiences these days. Some organizations simply are moaning about it, while others are trying their best to think of creative, out-of-the-box ways to reach younger audiences and people that simply have never been.

This is especially true of the Zurich Opernhaus, which broadcast La Traviata live from the busiest train station in Switzerland, Hauptbahnhof. Seems as if the train station was still open for business as regulars drank at the bar and people went about their business of getting on and off trains. It also seemed like it was a smash hit! Besides this production, the Opernhaus did a live broadcast of Magic Flute with 6 hours of backstage footage which apparently got similar ratings to a Champions League football (soccer) game (that includes Manchester United and Real Madrid!!!)! That's amazing!

But is this type of production only making audiences for this type of production (like they say that giving away free tickets only makes consumers of free tickets, not audiences willing to pay to see your art) or will is transfer to other productions? OR is this the way that opera productions are going to have to move - television broadcasts, simulcasts, webcasts, etc. - to keep up with changing times?

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Leslie Fay