402 posts
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Post by altamont on Sept 20, 2018 17:07:58 GMT
Welsh National Opera has a production of Prokofiev's War and Peace on at the moment - but with only 7 performances across a handful of venues until November. It is clearly an epic production and it is very hard to believe that it won't have a future - however, not being familiar with the ways in which opera companies work, can I ask if this a fair assumption, and it will be likely to return for future performances?
The reviews seem good enough to suggest that it would sell - and while it is possible we could go to one of the remaining performances, it wouldn't be easy and I'd rather leave it in the (hopefully safe) assumption that it will be back again
Thanks for any advice
A
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1,347 posts
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Post by tmesis on Sept 20, 2018 20:07:18 GMT
I would bust a gut to see this one. Productions of War and Peace are pretty rare. As far as I can remember the excellent ENO of around 20 years ago was not revived. The ROH have never produced it; only a visiting production from Kirov Opera and that in 2000. It's a wonderful opera.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 6:16:24 GMT
This small number of performances is usual for opera - I've never really understood the economics of this! The WNO does revive productions - for instance, this current season is 2 new productions and 4 revivals. But one ("La Cenerentola") is the first revival of that since 2007, so you might have to wait a while! Another example is their production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in 2010 which had a great reception but wasn't revived until the ENO picked it up a couple of years ago.
War and Peace will be coming to the Royal Opera House next July as part of the WNO's partnership with the Royal Opera - but bear in mind you'd be paying ROH prices for that!
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402 posts
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Post by altamont on Sept 21, 2018 8:47:44 GMT
Thanks Tmesis and Xanderl - I've rearranged my calendar and booked tickets for the single performance in Southampton. Wasn't aware it was coming to the ROH - but I'm sure a decent seat there would be quite a lot more than a similar seat in Southampton!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 9:09:03 GMT
WNO are a funny beast, some of their shows you can rely on coming back over and over (ad nauseum sometimes, jeysus if I never see that Traviata again it'll be too soon) but for their pieces like this the limited runs are usual, so I think it's a good bet to try and see it (I know a few people there so I'll try and find out anyway what it's life beyond might be...)
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4,983 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 21, 2018 9:33:48 GMT
I would like to see this as it is a fascinating opera.
Revivals will be few and far between due to the costs as the cast is huge and depending on its length the orchestra may all be on overtime
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1,347 posts
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Post by tmesis on Sept 21, 2018 9:52:03 GMT
Thanks Tmesis and Xanderl - I've rearranged my calendar and booked tickets for the single performance in Southampton. Wasn't aware it was coming to the ROH - but I'm sure a decent seat there would be quite a lot more than a similar seat in Southampton! I'm sure you are correct that Southampton will be cheaper than ROH but WNO productions at The Garden are usually substantially cheaper than 'in house' productions so the prices will definitely be fair. I will definitely go to it. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 11, 2018 19:27:53 GMT
It is being broadcast on Radio 3 on Saturday at 6pm.
It was recorded at the Cardiff performance.
I am seeing it on Saturday at 6.30 in Oxford!
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 13, 2018 23:02:47 GMT
I loved the music, I loved the performances, the orchestra and chorus are on fire. Some excellent vocals throughout. It is a very Pountney production (and some of the translation is very clunky) but it still lands with a lot of power.
It didn't feel like 4 hours in the theatre - which is a bonus
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 13, 2018 23:28:31 GMT
Two minor niggles annoyed me throughout - firstly they hadn't properly stretched the cyclorama that was used for the projection throughout. So every time the chorus filed by the get back to their dressing rooms, it rippled. A lot. A really basic error that kept jolting me out of the moment.
The other was the behaviour of one of the percussionists. They were up and down like a yo-you. In and out of the pit (which was essentially half the stalls at the New Theatre) - so you couldn't miss them. It was a very unprofessional way to act in an exposed pit. Again, it jolted me out of the action at some key points.
One big problem from the theatre management was the lack of bar staff on duty tonight. 2 people to serve at the stalls bar - not enough. Thankfully it was a 25 minute interval. Standing in line for 15 mins for my free glasses of wine - not ideal!
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402 posts
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Post by altamont on Nov 27, 2018 19:15:18 GMT
Well, four hours in a rainy Southampton later, with barely a tune we could recall afterwards, that was quite an experience. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to an opera novice like myself but it was certainly a spectacle. I was a little disappointed with the use of projections - it seemed a little half hearted compared to what I was expecting - but we were sat toward the side which didn't help. But as an example of what a sizable orchestra and chorus can deliver, very impressive.
Fascinating that it was written (well, at least started) in 1942 given what was happening in Russia at the time.
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