Opera

[hash tag]

you need to watch the opera though, it's not a concert

I was in the slips last night. This meant that I could only see a little bit of the stage and even then with difficulty. I had a decent view of the subtitles, which I have never bothered with before and showed me a whole new perspective, which was great.

A very simple opera, few big choruses more solo's. Also a very simple, basic plot.

Last line of the opera is Violetta singing "you give me life" before dropping dead

 

[Winot]

I was in the slips last night. This meant that I could only see a little bit of the stage and even then with difficulty. I had a decent view of the subtitles, which I have never bothered with before and showed me a whole new perspective, which was great.

A very simple opera, few big choruses more solo's. Also a very simple, basic plot.

Last line of the opera is Violetta singing "you give me life" before dropping dead

I was there last night! Thought it was fantastic. Saw the same/similar production there in 2015.

Going to ENO to see Aknehaten in March and then taling my mum to see Il Trovatore in Verona in June.

 

[Santino]

I was there last night! Thought it was fantastic. Saw the same/similar production there in 2015.

Going to ENO to see Aknehaten in March and then taling my mum to see Il Trovatore in Verona in June.

I'm seeing Akhenaten in February. I saw it a couple of years ago and it involved these amazing jugglers. I know that's not the point of the evening at all, but they were fucking amazing.

 

[Winot]

I'm seeing Akhenaten in February. I saw it a couple of years ago and it involved these amazing jugglers. I know that's not the point of the evening at all, but they were fucking amazing.

Yep I saw it last time too. They are extraordinary, and are a genius match for the music.

 

[hash tag]

Quick heads up, tomorrow night on BBC4 BBC Four - Pappano's Greatest Arias

Pappano is such a nice, enthuastic knowledgeable bloke. Could be good.

 

[dessiato]

Quick heads up, tomorrow night on BBC4 BBC Four - Pappano's Greatest Arias

Pappano is such a nice, enthuastic knowledgeable bloke. Could be good.

Thanks. I'll look for that on iplayer.

 

[hash tag]

Interesting programme, spanning from Handel to modern.
Pappano Is brilliant. His knowledge, passion, enthusiasm, voice, piano playing, language....
Have just found him on desert island discs to listen to

 

[hash tag]

Watched this on Saturday. Light, silly, lavish, colourful, expensive, superb. Be warned that the subtitles stop around 3/4 of the way through

 

[hash tag]

Fantastic seeing "live" opera in the gala from the royal opera House tonight. So much work and effort and everyone seems so happy to be back. Shame to see the lovely Pappano conducting rather than presenting/withering. Great effort, great show.

 

[Cloo]

For something a bit different for opera fans, here is an aria from the lesser-known 'La Boheme' - by Leooncavallo - premiered a year after Puccini's but never destined for the same success. The singer is Monwabisi Lindi, a young South African tenor. My dad is chair of Hampstead Garden Opera, an amateur group that aims to support aspiring pros, and heard about Monwa through friends - he got the part of Rudolfo in their (Puccini) La Boheme last year and moved in with my folks for two months for rehearsal and performance. He really does have an outstanding voice and has been picked up by the Opera Studio programme for young singers in London, so we're all hoping for a great career for him - he's a lovely bloke who went through rough childhood in a township outside Port Elizabeth.

 

[Guineveretoo]

Completely missed this thread the first time round. And the second time round, come to that.

I love opera. Particularly Mozart. My favourite opera is probably the Magic Flute, which is a bonkers story, which means it can be interpreted in lots of different ways, but which has the most glorious music in it.

I also love the Marriage of Figaro which is actually a play I did for A Level French, so I know quite a bit about the story itself and the politics. And I went to a "pre performance talk" led by an academic about it at Glyndebourne one time, which was fascinating, as it linked the original play by Beaumarchais to the original production and the changes they had to make/play down, in order to make it acceptable.

I even love Cosi Fan Tutte even though the story is rubbish - two men take a bet that their fiancées do not love them enough to be faithful if they go away, and then disguise themselves and come back and seduce the other one's fiancée. I saw a production recently (streamed, of course) which twisted the ending slightly, and managed to show the women rejecting the men at the end, by a bit of judicious acting and walking off stage, which improved the ridiculous story.

Anyway... I don't just love Mozart opera - I have seen loads of others.... I just think I favour Mozart. I love how he used the human voice and integrated it with the orchestra.

 

[hash tag]

Lots to watch here £16 for Tosca, which I have never seen has to be worth, after all, some of their sandwiches or drinks cost nearly that much. I was at the Magic Flute; beautiful. They need supporting.

What's on

Whether you're new to ballet and opera or you've loved them all your life, we have something for you.

www.roh.org.uk

 

[contadino]

Aye. Been streaming a lot recently and the ROH is superb. Watched a few from The Met, the Barbican, etc.. The production quality of the ROH is leaps and bounds better. They're streaming a fair bit of Puccini in January, including La Boheme and Tosca.

 

[SovietArmy]

Go on Arte Tv is plenty to choose and got English subtitles. As well few ballets.

 

[izz]

Opera-liking peoples !!!

I haven't listened to any opera at all.

Where to start ? I'd quite like to give this opera business a try as so many think it's wonderful thing. I do love me baroque and chamber music if that's any help ?

Any recommendations oh cultured and knowledgeable people ?

 

[Guineveretoo]

Opera-liking peoples !!!

I haven't listened to any opera at all.

Where to start ? I'd quite like to give this opera business a try as so many think it's wonderful thing. I do love me baroque and chamber music if that's any help ?

Any recommendations oh cultured and knowledgeable people ?

I would suggest one that’s got a story that makes sense on first listening, with some easy listening music, and a happy ending.

The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. Based on a play by Beaumarchais. Some funny/farcical bits, some sad/lovey bits, and a nice, tidy ending. And some of the most glorious music ever written.

 

[izz]

I would suggest one that’s got a story that makes sense on first listening, with some easy listening music, and a happy ending.

The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. Based on a play by Beaumarchais. Some funny/farcical bits, some sad/lovey bits, and a nice, tidy ending. And some of the most glorious music ever written.

Liking that review Guineveretoo, I shall seek a source forthwith

 

[Guineveretoo]

Liking that review Guineveretoo, I shall seek a source forthwith

There is even some political scandal around the story/play. It’s got everything.

 

[Guineveretoo]

oh, and there is a dance in the middle of it.

One of my favourite operas and can’t recommend it highly enough. Anything you want to know about it, just ask.

 

[Cloo]

Opera-liking peoples !!!

I haven't listened to any opera at all.

Where to start ? I'd quite like to give this opera business a try as so many think it's wonderful thing. I do love me baroque and chamber music if that's any help ?

Any recommendations oh cultured and knowledgeable people ?

If you're in London and want to see some live and affordably, Hampstead Garden Opera are doing Marriage of Figaro at Jackson's Lane in Highgate at the beginning of November HGO (I'll confess my dad is chairman of HGO so I'm a bit biased, but they really are very good and they give a career kickstart to some fantastic young singers)

I'm a big fan of Verdi's 'Rigoletto' for starters, which is quite short and full of drama and fantastic music.

 

[Winot]

I'm a big fan of Verdi's 'Rigoletto' for starters, which is quite short and full of drama and fantastic music.

Saw this at Covent Garden a couple of weeks ago. Definitely accessible (and not too long). Horrifying gender politics though

 

[Chilli.s]

When I went to Puccini's house, I very gently and with a clean finger touched the keyboard of his piano.

Sadly this has not magically helped my composition or playing.

 

[Cloo]

Horrifying gender politics though

That's all opera basically. Though have seen some good feminist interpretations of The Ring cycle of late.

 

[hash tag]

To break both my wife and daughter into opera I started with some comedy opera, very light...Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado, Pinafore and Pirates. From there we went to Figaro and very similar the Barber of Seville. From there to things like Verdi's Nabbuco which has the most beautiful harmonies. Also the Magic Flute by Mozart is very light and great fun.

 

[Guineveretoo]

To break both my wife and daughter into opera I started with some comedy opera, very light...Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado, Pinafore and Pirates. From there we went to Figaro and very similar the Barber of Seville. From there to things like Verdi's Nabbuco which has the most beautiful harmonies. Also the Magic Flute by Mozart is very light and great fun.

I nearly recommended the Magic Flute, but the story is so utterly weird and wrong, despite the most glorious music.

And I think Gilbert & Sullivan, although light and frothy and fun, are a bit too light and frothy and fun so not a good introduction to opera. Although that is an odd thing to say, so I suspect I am probably talking crap.

But I just love Mozart SO much. The first opera I saw live was Don Giovanni, when I was a teenager.

 

[hash tag]

I nearly recommended the Magic Flute, but the story is so utterly weird and wrong, despite the most glorious music.

And I think Gilbert & Sullivan, although light and frothy and fun, are a bit too light and frothy and fun so not a good introduction to opera. Although that is an odd thing to say, so I suspect I am probably talking crap.

But I just love Mozart SO much. The first opera I saw live was Don Giovanni, when I was a teenager.

I am not one for a good story, besides if it in German or Italian I don't have a clue. I know I like a good tune and good singing. This moves me to tears

 

[Chilli.s]

The first opera I saw live was Don Giovanni, when I was a teenager.

Me too, although it seems like you were dragged in further than I. I have not had much of an urge to see any more than the handful I saw then, rarely listen to any either. Appreciate the appeal but recognise it aint for me on a day to day thing!

 

[bluescreen]

A lot depends on the production, though. Modern productions tend to favour a bit of serious acting, and an interesting set, instead of the old-fashioned thing of standing in a row and just singing.

 

[dessiato]

I live Carmen. It is so amazing. Story, singing everything. When we lived in Sevilla we went to the sites in which it is set. I'd love to see it live in Sevilla.

I also like Cossi fan Tutti. It's good fun.

 

[Winot]

I'm seeing Akhenaten in February. I saw it a couple of years ago and it involved these amazing jugglers. I know that's not the point of the evening at all, but they were fucking amazing.

Saw this last night. Similar style of production to Akhenaten - musically and visually stunning:

Satyagraha | Discover Opera | English National Opera

www.eno.org

Recommended if you like Philip Glass (not if you don’t).

(Last half an hour is very slow though.)