Anyone know anything about the horses used on stage in the New York Metropolitan Opera production of Aida?
What are they? How old are they? Where are they housed???
The journalist who wrote a 2017 article listing the horses’ names, ages, stable, and describing how they are trained does.
Say more. What journalist? What article? What mag?
Try “who provides horses to the metropolitan opera” in google.
Can’t answer your questions but those horses must be saints to tolerate being in an opera on stage.
This one? Not sure why the article couldn’t just be shared.
http://www.playbill.com/article/how-do-you-train-a-donkey-to-be-a-met-opera-performer
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Thank you! The Novograd name explains a lot.
All five animal actors—and almost all of the Met’s theatrical critters—are provided by All-Tame Animals, a New York–based animal talent agency owned by Nancy Novograd,
And for those who don’t remember the Novograd family, especially Paul Novograd, (Jr and Sr) they were the owners of the old Claremont Riding Academy…the last livery stable in Manhattan. I have been past the old stables and it is a beautiful building.
Who can tell without google what opera has white horse as cast? It was mentioned in the Book Phantom of the opera so pre WWI. I want to see who the other classic opera nerds are on the board.
I work with a wonderful man who used to work at Claremont. He was one of the people who would take the horses and donkeys to the opera and handle them before the performance. He has told me stories of being back stage with the animals, including throwing buckets underneath them when someone had to “go” :lol:
I know that two donkeys that they used for the opera were being kept at Riverdale Equestrian Center for a while. One was named Gabriel and was a total sweetheart. He was there with his pal whose name I can’t remember.
Edit to add: Just read that article and there’s Gabriel in the top photo!
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