Fixed Gear Opera Appreciation Society

And the music is on Spotify. Win.

Did not expect this thread!

I try and get to the opera about every two months, my wife is an opera singer - just teaching at the moment - so we try to see whats on as its pretty world class here.

I am currently looking forward to the Holland Park Operas in July, some of the matinee tickeys will be under £20 and I have seen some really good performances. They do tend towards classic Italian ie Puccini, Verdi et al.

Our friend was singing at Glyndebourne last season and that was excellent,
I might be going to see Faust, I will update if I am going.

I still need to get tickets for Faust, I'm really hopeful that all the hints I've dropped will mean I will be taken on a date to it.

I am currently looking forward to the Holland Park Operas in July, some of the matinee tickeys will be under £20 and I have seen some really good performances. They do tend towards classic Italian ie Puccini, Verdi et al.

I can recommend this. I went a couple of times last year when i lived there. Tramp cans in the park before/after. Win.

Holland Park is an excellent night out when the weather plays ball.

Otherwise I'm a fond of the £9.70 (cheapskate) tickets at the ROH. They're not terrible seats and we've been allowed to swap seats (subject to availability) many a time.

I have had some good nights in the standing section as well for a bit over a tenner at ROH, drinks are really fucking expensive though.

There are always spare seats in the stalls... after the interval, 2nd-half it like a boss.

I'm a music student at Guildhall school of music and drama, and can really recommend going to see some of the opera (and indeed any other performances) at the school, although it's usually smaller scale works due to the limits of the theatre, the performances are always top notch, and allot cheaper than major companies. The calendar is on the website, http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/

if you love opera, then one day treat yourselves to a night out here

^been a dream of mine to see some Verdi at Verona festival

I'm a music student at Guildhall school of music and drama, and can really recommend going to see some of the opera (and indeed any other performances) at the school, although it's usually smaller scale works due to the limits of the theatre, the performances are always top notch, and allot cheaper than major companies. The calendar is on the website, http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/

As a former student at GSMD, i can wholeheartedly recommend visiting the bar instead.

^been a dream of mine to see some Verdi at Verona festival

I went when i was pretty young - it was so spectacular that the guy next to me was balling his eyes out. He looked a bit mental-homeless, though.

Glyndebourne is stunning. I treasure my memories of performing there (not as a singer); a truly unique venue.

One day I'll be able to afford to go and watch something there.

As a former student at GSMD, i can wholeheartedly recommend visiting the bar instead..

well, and that as well...

I still need to get tickets for Faust, I'm really hopeful that all the hints I've dropped will mean I will be taken on a date to it.

;0

An excellent thread - thanks Nhatt!

I've been to many shows at the Coliseum over the years, particularly enjoying Richard Jones productions. One of the most memorable shows was "Gadaffi", featuring Asian Dub Foundation. It was truly awful in many respects but refreshingly different, but the best part was that I emerged from the Coliseum to see the two tallbikes that had just that day finished their tour of the British coastline (can't remember the names of the chaps who rode them) locked up outside. Had they pedalled round Britain and then decided, "Hey, let's go and see a semi-operatic show that attempts to overwrite some of the vile slanders against our mate Muammar"? Anyway, after taking a photo of the tallbikes I then set off on an overnight bike ride to Brighton, one of the earlier FNrTTCs.

Ha! I loved Gadaffi the Opera. It was the best thing I'd seen at the Coliseum in ages (although admittedly I'm an infrequent visitor). Maybe it's because I like the ADF, or maybe because we got nr front row centre tickets for £10 either way it now means that for some reason I'm able to overlook his human rights abuses simply because Muammar belts out a good song.

I too love opera but for some reason can only get into those in German and really dislike Itallian ones... I don't think this is because I can speak German (because I tend to dislike any English language versions too) but there must be a reason.

Just scored super cheapo tickets for the opening night of Faust on friday.

eeeeeeeeeeeexcellent.

Source?

Source?

YouTube - The Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For The Man

Source?

but I am a member of the ENO's Access All Arias which is well worth checking out if your under 30 and interested.

got dress circle for £15 a pop! And despite it technically not being a proper opera, Faust was entertaining and well worth seeing!

Saw the billboards for Faust and was curious how it would translate to opera, sounds like you enjoyed it. Not sure if I will get a chance to see it

Because of the nature of the score with all the long instrumental interludes, you can kind of do anything with it, and Gilliam really has. The adaptaion of the storyline to nazi germany seems almost effortless, I was really impressed.

I'm doing a semi-staged performance of Smetana's 'A Bartered Bride' tomorrow night. It's being made into a recording for Harmoni Mundi - should be a good one and not many tickets left. Anyone going?

^Not I, stuck at the hospital all weekend, good luck though

My friend stephen is a humorous opera composer - this a link to his new project if any of you opera buffs are interested in new, up and coming works...

Hey Opera heads, if anyone ever hears about a production of Le Devin du Village (not necessarily just in London), let me know. (There will probably be a number of performances in 2012 coinciding with JJR's tricentennial).