Fixed Gear Opera Appreciation Society

Promo post!

Again not opera, but might interest a few people here. My significantly better half has the first of three gigs at the Forge, Camden, coming up with her trio. Sunday, 6pm for an hour. Details below.

http://www.forgevenue.org/eclectic-collections/

I'm not often one to venture to the wilds of North London, but it should be good. It's a short programme, with a group of instruments you don't often hear together (flute, cello, piano) and some interesting repertoire. The first one is a sort of French impressionistic set, called Watercolours. Will be quite lively.

And as if that were not enough to attract you, there are concert-themed happy-hour cocktails in the Forge bar after the gig.

Promo post over!

Got a spare for Turandot tonight at ROH. PM me for it.
730pm

^ balls

^^ watched the live stream last week, was good, although "the big one" didn't bring out the goosebumps....

Crosspost from the dancing thread:

I have a spare ticket to the Royal Ballet performing Chroma TONIGHT if anyone fancies it? 7.30pm at the Royal Opera House, cheap seat (somewhere near the ceiling), rubbish company (me)...

Just seen ENO Peter Grimes. That is the strong stuff.

I've one spare £17 ticket for ROH Manon Lescaut - Puccini's first hit - this Tuesday. PM me if you want it.

Upsides: Kaufman, Pappano
Downsides: you're sitting next to me

.

Possible dibs. What time is kick off?

Thanks dumps, I'm really looking forward to this. See you tomorrow.

Also, through a strange confluence of events I am off to Glyndebourne twice this year, La Traviata which should be suitably classical, and then for The Turn of the Screw in October. Excited.

Glad I found the opera thread. This place is a continual treasure trove of good stuff.

Just got back from Manon Lescaut at the ROH with dumps. Absolutely stunning. I didn't know the story or the music and loved both. The staging was modern, a bit wacky and brilliant. Singing phenomenal.

Thanks so much dumps, that was a peachy evening.

Oh and sitting next to dumps was not a downside.

Whoop whoop! Good to meet you!

You lucky pair! I listened to it on radio 2. Last act was so great!

Blimey, radio 2 has changed remit ;-)

I've just been reading about how the production team were booed on the opening night.

ROH audiences being conservative old farts? Well I never.

And yes the Act 4 aria was incredible. Also the overture before act 3 was stunning. We could look right down into the orchestra which was a real bonus of the seats we had.

Sad news that ENO will have it's Arts Council funding cut by over £5m next year. I read something about them having to move to a new business model which included doing musicals.. and nearly cried. I think I even heard my dad turn in his grave.

Really sad. All the stuff I've seen there recently has been way more adventurous, innovative, risky than what you'd expect to see in such a big, central house. But has also been way more engaging and interesting. Mashton and I were rhapsodising last night about their recent Peter Grimes, in fact. You just can't take risks like that without stable funding.

Yes, I heard about that this morning. Its been coming for a while but is very sad.

I was sad to miss that run of Grimes, probably my favourite opera - and the one I have seen the most productions of.

Yes, I saw it too and it was stunning. Maybe ENO will re run productions rather than produce new ones. You may get a chance yet...

Went to see La Traviata at Glyndebourne yesterday. The soprano songing Violetta was absolutely jaw dropping. They are screening it at Odeons and Picturehoise on the 10th August. Go, if you can.

Quiet thread.

I went to see Life from Light at Kings place as part of their tête a tête season.

Total crap. Like a cross between a GCSE art project and a car advert.

What a tosser.

The sopranos did a good job, despite the tosh they had to work with.

The worst part was that I took a mate as his introduction to opera. Should have ponied up and taken him to the ROH instead.

Die Zauberflöte at ROH this evening. Absolutely brilliant production.
I went with my mum - last time she saw anything at ROH was when she was pregnant with me. She says the place has smartened up a lot since!