Madam Butterfly ENO

Yes, this is a revival of the Anthony Minghella production - here's a review of a recent revival of the same production in New York

bachtrack.com/review-madama-butterfly-opolais-alagna-met-opera-new-york-march-2016

I really enjoyed it when I saw it a few years ago, it's amazing visually, and I think would be a great first opera to see. There are some decent offers on theatremonkey for it, also most ENO operas end up at TKTS for £30 or so, although this tends to be a popular one so may not.

Give it a whirl, the worst that can happen is that you leave at the intermission. It is a rather attractive production. If you want to be on the cheap side, there are some £12/£20 Balcony tickets left. Just avoid row B; and row A if you need legroom and mind a bar that can be easily looked past.

Yup, that's the one

My dad saw the dress rehearsal (get him!) and he said it was great! Fc

Still having withdrawl symptoms after Sunset Boulevade, a half price ticket (£30) from TKTS and good reviews about this production tempted me to go. I am not an Opera buff having only seen a handful of operas in my (long) lifetime. I know why.

Unlike twisted1 above I left at the second interval (I know how it ends) - I simply could not stand anymore.

I knew I was in trouble from the start when an opera sung in English (ENO - the clue is in the company title) had surtitles above the stage in English! I soon discoverd why, as I could barely make out a word that was being sung albeit in English! The translation from the original Italian was not good.

I thought the staging was ugly apart from an opening sequence performed in silence before the opera actually began and the ending of act 1 with lanterns which was beautifully done. But the whole show was performed in black box with a vertiginous raked floor which the ensemeble had to almost scramble down - a miracle none of them slipped!

The orchestra was sublime. The singing and acting less so.

The puppet child did not work for me at all. All pathos lost and not especially well manipulated on this viewing.

I have to report though that the theatre was packed with a mixed audience - lots of young people - well virtually everyone is younger than me - so it must be the "thing to do" on a date night! But clearly Showboat does not attract the same audience? I will have to stick to musicals and plays - call me a peasant/pleb - I dont care!