|
Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 26, 2022 16:21:59 GMT
I was surprised. Apparently he is known also as a musician and composer. But his age is higher than I would cast the role.
Very curious decision
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Aug 26, 2022 16:27:43 GMT
It certainly won't be a surprise when Elsie prefers Fairfax to Point!
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 26, 2022 17:16:13 GMT
It certainly won't be a surprise when Elsie prefers Fairfax to Point! not in the slightest!!
|
|
|
Post by nottobe on Aug 29, 2022 16:58:19 GMT
I'm wanting to see my first ever opera in the Autumn and had either Salome, Aida or Alcina on my short list. I a not sure which would be the best to see as someone new to it all but am excited by seeing a large production. Any recommendations are welcome as well as general information regarding going to the opera. Tosca at ENO is also on my shortlist.
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 29, 2022 18:26:42 GMT
Of those 4, I would go with Tosca. It has some damned fine tunes and plenty of drama.
Alcina would come next as that is very beautiful. But not the easiest Handel to start on.
Aida is a piece I have never got on with. Too grand and not as emotionally gripping as other Verdi pieces.
Salome is a bit of an acquired taste. Something to work up to
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Aug 29, 2022 21:56:19 GMT
I too would go for Tosca but I'd go for the ROH production rather than the ENO one, as the ROH's is more traditional. I certainly wouldn't recommend Salome, as not only is it musically more challenging but when I saw the ROH production when it was new I thoroughly disliked it & found some of it pretty confusing, as it didn't always follow the libretto. The Aida & Alcina productions are both new so goodness knows what they'll be like, I don't personally find the blurbs on the ROH website exactly encouraging. I see you haven't mentioned La Boheme in your list. Have you considered that from the ROH's autumn offerings? It tends to be the opera most people seem to recommend as a first opera.
|
|
|
Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 29, 2022 22:58:00 GMT
My first was The Magic Flute. After that I was hooked!
|
|
523 posts
|
Post by vabbian on Aug 29, 2022 23:12:39 GMT
I'm wanting to see my first ever opera in the Autumn and had either Salome, Aida or Alcina on my short list. I a not sure which would be the best to see as someone new to it all but am excited by seeing a large production. Any recommendations are welcome as well as general information regarding going to the opera. Tosca at ENO is also on my shortlist. Honestly you're best going to La Boheme or Madam Butterfly if it's going to be your first opera. The ones of have listed are more of a personal taste and may put you off altogether. Tosca is also a great entry opera, but it's ten times better at ROH than ENO.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Aug 30, 2022 9:57:50 GMT
Tosca at the ENO was my first and it hooked me bigtime! But dare I say it that was 40 years ago and even in the Powerhouse days it was traditional. The Te Deum scene at the end of Act 1 is still a favourite moment as the stage fills and the music builds. I can still remember being astonished. I believe Tosca was Nelly Miricioiu who seemed to sing it her whole career.
I agree with all the suggestions above. The Boheme at the Royal Opera House is a great introduction to Opera. Tosca there is also a fine production. BUT it won't be long before they go with La Traviata again. IMO just about as good a production as it gets.
For those who are considering Opera but worried at the cost the seats in the Slips at ROH offer some of the best value in London. The sound is wonderful and you can normally see 65% of the stage. Don't worry, no singer is going to perform their big no from the back of the stage!
Go, I hope you enjoy and please report back.
|
|
2,812 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by couldileaveyou on Aug 30, 2022 10:02:01 GMT
Don Giovanni at ROH is also good, as a general observation I think you can rarely go wrong with Mozart or Puccini as a first opera. I love Salome, but Strauss' operas are definitely more of an acquired taste, if I had started with that I doubt I'd have ever set foot in an opera house again
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Aug 30, 2022 12:35:12 GMT
I love Salome, but Strauss' operas are definitely more of an acquired taste, if I had started with that I doubt I'd have ever set foot in an opera house again I think that depends on the Strauss opera. My first ROH visit was to see Rosenkavalier & it's still my favourite opera. Admittedly I had previously seen a couple of other operas - Cenerentola & Ballo - done by touring Eastern European companies, plus I'd seen Boheme at the RAH when I was 7 (which I didn't enjoy at all), but Rosenkavalier was what changed me from getting interested in opera to loving it. Though admittedly if I had been taken to Salome, or even worse Elektra, rather than Rosenkavalier then it certainly wouldn't have had the same effect!
|
|
|
Post by nottobe on Aug 30, 2022 17:29:04 GMT
Thank you everyone for your advice it is all very appreciated!. I have done a bit of googling with Tosca at ENO and to be honest that production does not look like my cup of tea as it is very traditional. I am quite interest in seeing something that is more so modern in its staging as this is the sort of thing that when I see clips of, makes me want to see it. I would say now with a bit more research Alcina is probably at the top of my list. I have seen some of Richard Jones stage work and I think his style would appeal to me as an opera. It hasn't opened but I am happy to take a punt and book a ticket. La Boheme is a close second and is also a Richard Jones production but it maybe looks a bit too traditional for my liking, but you never know.
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Aug 30, 2022 18:42:56 GMT
Thank you everyone for your advice it is all very appreciated!. I have done a bit of googling with Tosca at ENO and to be honest that production does not look like my cup of tea as it is very traditional. Whereas I looked up the new ENO Tosca & thought it didn't look nearly traditional enough! I think I for one had better not give any more advice, as it sounds like what you are looking for in opera productions is the complete opposite to what I look for.
|
|
4,593 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 31, 2022 8:35:12 GMT
I think Richard Jones best work is behind him. I would avoid his ROH Boheme as it does not offer a new insight into thr work. The set designs are particularly terrible and from the amphi the sight lines for act 1&4 are terrible.
Christof Loy is great director and I'm looking forward to his Tosca at ENO.
|
|
391 posts
|
Post by Distant Dreamer... on Sept 1, 2022 22:25:36 GMT
The new season is nearly upon us (said in a Shakespearian voice for no reason).
|
|
4,593 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 13, 2022 11:38:21 GMT
Due to torn ligaments I'm having to sell my place for Aida. It's also posted in notices.
Aida 7pm 28th Sept £22 D32 - STANDING but you get a nice upholstered rail to lean against.
Balcony level
Perfect view of the stage. Often the seats infront are empty and so you can upgrade
*edit. Ticket now gone*
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Sept 13, 2022 13:02:04 GMT
Ouch. Get well soon.
I've never seen a decent Aida. Fingers crossed for this one.
|
|
4,593 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 13, 2022 13:41:32 GMT
Ouch. Get well soon. I've never seen a decent Aida. Fingers crossed for this one. Thanks Mr S.
|
|
rj
Auditioning
|
Post by rj on Sept 22, 2022 9:53:55 GMT
Has anyone seen any discount codes recently for Salomé??
|
|
590 posts
|
Post by AddisonMizner on Apr 13, 2023 5:41:44 GMT
Does anyone know when the new season is announced?
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Apr 13, 2023 12:13:45 GMT
I've heard 26th April but don't know if that's accurate/confirmed.
|
|
391 posts
|
Post by Distant Dreamer... on Apr 13, 2023 18:29:53 GMT
It’s rather late this year, not sure if thats a good thing 😒
|
|
1,037 posts
|
Post by jgblunners on Apr 19, 2023 9:43:07 GMT
This tweet seems to confirm it will indeed be the 26th!
|
|
851 posts
|
Post by bordeaux on Apr 21, 2023 11:30:55 GMT
I can thoroughly recommend to all fans of modern opera Innocence by Kaija Saariaho which has a few performances left. It's a brilliant piece, amazingly sung, played and directed (Simon Stone, with a revolving box by Chloe Lamford as the set - superbly effective). For anyone who wants to get an idea of the music beforehand, it is available on youtube.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Snow on Apr 24, 2023 16:37:45 GMT
I can thoroughly recommend to all fans of modern opera Innocence by Kaija Saariaho which has a few performances left. It's a brilliant piece, amazingly sung, played and directed (Simon Stone, with a revolving box by Chloe Lamford as the set - superbly effective). For anyone who wants to get an idea of the music beforehand, it is available on youtube. I'd go one stronger. For any fans of Opera...particularly those who find most modern Operas forgettable. This is such a strong Drama that I dare you not to be affected by it. IMO the best new Opera I've heard dating back to Dialogue of the Carmelites. And that covers a long period.
|
|
851 posts
|
Post by bordeaux on Jun 1, 2023 12:52:06 GMT
The Deborah Warner Wozzeck is fabulous too. Would love her to do something every year!
|
|
|
Post by marob on Jun 1, 2023 14:02:01 GMT
I’m planning a trip in December and would like to see The Nutcracker. The dates are all showing but the casting is currently blank. Do they get announced when the tickets go on sale or much nearer the actual performances?
|
|
1,316 posts
|
Post by tmesis on Jun 1, 2023 17:43:05 GMT
I’m planning a trip in December and would like to see The Nutcracker. The dates are all showing but the casting is currently blank. Do they get announced when the tickets go on sale or much nearer the actual performances? They usually announce casting just before public booking (usually only principal dancers though - more detailed casting is often only weeks, sometimes days, before.)
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Jun 1, 2023 19:36:27 GMT
I’m planning a trip in December and would like to see The Nutcracker. The dates are all showing but the casting is currently blank. Do they get announced when the tickets go on sale or much nearer the actual performances? They usually announce casting just before public booking (usually only principal dancers though - more detailed casting is often only weeks, sometimes days, before.) For The Nutcracker you usually get advanced casting for the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Prince, Clara, Hans-Peter & Drosselmeyer, which I think is reasonable. It's not like, say, Sleeping Beauty or Romeo & Juliet where you only get advanced casting for the lead pair & not for the important supporting roles. Given the highest level of Friends booking opens on 27th June I would assume casting will be announced before then, so there shouldn't be too long to wait.
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Jun 2, 2023 19:35:34 GMT
marob Are you on the BalletcoForum? A link to the Friends pdf of the autumn casting has just been posted there. If not then let me know & I can pass it on to you. However contrary to my expectations, and to last year's autumn casting pdf, this time only the Sugar Plum Fairy & Prince casting has been announced so far.
|
|