when the fat lady sings

[William the White]

Tomorrow (Tues) night, 19.15, live from Covent Garden, in cinemas all over the UK and in 22 different countries, Puccini's La Boheme is broadcast.
.................

A mere 2 hours 45... I've seen this opera four or five times. And love it.

Could you not understand it the first 2 or 3 times ???

I could, it's comparatively simple. I expect you could follow it, with a little extra effort.

[bobo the clown]

Tomorrow (Tues) night, 19.15, live from Covent Garden, in cinemas all over the UK and in 22 different countries, Puccini's La Boheme is broadcast.
.................
A mere 2 hours 45... I've seen this opera four or five times. And love it.

Could you not understand it the first 2 or 3 times ???

I could, it's comparatively simple. I expect you could follow it, with a little extra effort.

In less than 4 or 5 viewings ?

[William the White]

Tomorrow (Tues) night, 19.15, live from Covent Garden, in cinemas all over the UK and in 22 different countries, Puccini's La Boheme is broadcast.
.................
A mere 2 hours 45... I've seen this opera four or five times. And love it.

Could you not understand it the first 2 or 3 times ???

I could, it's comparatively simple. I expect you could follow it, with a little extra effort.

In less than 4 or 5 viewings ?

Mmm... Well, maybe...

[William the White]

As posted on the 'match' thread:

How nice... fantastic night at the opera... mobs off... switch on at the end... 2-0 to the Whites... Fantastic night just turned into perfect one...

I'm a bit happy...

[Montreal Wanderer]

As posted on the 'match' thread:

How nice... fantastic night at the opera... mobs off... switch on at the end... 2-0 to the Whites... Fantastic night just turned into perfect one...

I'm a bit happy...

Wish we could win in the league...

[William the White]

Verdi's Rigoletto live from the New York Met, tonight at Cineworld 5.55.

Will be excellent, I know.

[William the White]

Verdi's Rigoletto live from the New York Met, tonight at Cineworld 5.55.

Will be excellent, I know.

Daft story whose final 'surprise' doesn't really work, but a really interesting production. The production moves the actin from 17th/18th century Mantua to 1960 Las Vegas. The Duke is a casino owner, his supporters - based on the 'rat pack' are mixed up with dodgy gangsters etc, etc...

Singing and orchestra totally without blemish.

[Prufrock]

Verdi's Rigoletto live from the New York Met, tonight at Cineworld 5.55.

Will be excellent, I know.

Hmm. The good lady and I went to watch Lincoln on Saturday evening at Cineworld Cheltenham. As we were walking in, a lady behind said to the ticket guy that she was going 'back into the Opera'. I thought it might be one of your things.

Now, my question is, is it a good 'intro' to Opera, watching some of the world's best on a cinema screen, or would I be better going watching a less good company (if that's the word) live? If you were to recommend the former, I doubt there'd be much choice, but if the later, could you recommend any 'entry-level' stuff, as far as that is a thing in opera?

I don't think ballet really floats my boat, but, despite my hatred for musicals, opera has always kind of appealed. The music always sounds fantastic, and I can deal with story-telling through music when the whole point is that is through music.

[William the White]

Verdi's Rigoletto live from the New York Met, tonight at Cineworld 5.55.

Will be excellent, I know.

Hmm. The good lady and I went to watch Lincoln on Saturday evening at Cineworld Cheltenham. As we were walking in, a lady behind said to the ticket guy that she was going 'back into the Opera'. I thought it might be one of your things.

Now, my question is, is it a good 'intro' to Opera, watching some of the world's best on a cinema screen, or would I be better going watching a less good company (if that's the word) live? If you were to recommend the former, I doubt there'd be much choice, but if the later, could you recommend any 'entry-level' stuff, as far as that is a thing in opera?

I don't think ballet really floats my boat, but, despite my hatred for musicals, opera has always kind of appealed. The music always sounds fantastic, and I can deal with story-telling through music when the whole point is that is through music.

The chance to see one of the world's greatest opera companies (much more daring than any British company) in live performance for about £12 is in my view the true cultural snip of the year... And, indeed, it's a brilliant introduction to opera - includes, for instance, backstage interviews in the interval, all of which help to demystify the experience and give you the insight into great artists at work...

Unfortunately you've missed some of the 'entry level' operas but in two weeks time Wagner's Parsifal is broadcast from the Met. It will be brilliant. But not an 'easy' intro to the medium. but go with an open mind, and a little preliminary research via google, and you might find yourself enjoying. My own entry was via Verdi and Otello. Easier than Wagner, I reckon, though they both do great, great music...

The next season of the Met Live will start in September... My suggested 'entry level' operas would be La Traviata, Carmen, La Boheme. Great stories. Great tunes... If any are there, put it into your diary... that said, don't hold back from going to a live performance... Opera is great...

[TANGODANCER]

^

Get to see Madame Butterfly if you can. The aria, "One Fine Day" allways raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

[William the White]

Francesca da Rimini tonight, on the NY Met Live, screened at Cineworld... Under four hours by three minutes. Disappointingly...

As melodramatic as even Italian opera can get. Great score, great singing, every moment in the 'drama' predictable, no surprises, high emotions dramatically unearned etc...

Still a fab night. Great cast. Achingly beautiful orchestral music from time to time.

Programme included a brief preview of next season - ten more operas to be screened live...

Can't wait...

[bobo the clown]

You need to start going to bingo or something !!

[William the White]

You need to start going to bingo or something !!

Naaah... bingo too difficult...

[Bruce Rioja]

Under four hours by three minutes. Disappointingly...

Go on

[William the White]

Under four hours by three minutes. Disappointingly...

Go on

Just that bobo worries about my sanity on the four hours issue... scroll back if you can be arsed...

In fact bobo worries about me going to opera under any circs, it seems...

Obviously, i would like to please him by taking up bingo... but have always had difficulty with numbers...

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

So, it's the end of the BP Summer Screens tonight: http://www.roh.org.uk/about/bp-big-screens" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tonight - Tosca live from the Royal Opera House, for free. Can't wait. I see it's on in Manchester, so do get down if you can. You won't regret it.

I saw Puccini's La Rondine in Trafalgar Sq last week (which is where I'll be in a couple of hours tonight). Good-looking production, not least because Angela Gheorghiu, heaving cleavage and all, is still an absolute stunner (visually and aurally) at 47, but it's not very well-known because the story is a bit lightwight and none of the arias stick in your head.

[William the White]

The NY Met Live in HD 2013-14 season.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/ ... einHD.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I cannot wait!!!!

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

The NY Met Live in HD 2013-14 season.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/ ... einHD.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I cannot wait!!!!

What's the atmosphere in the cinema like when these are on, Will? I always imagine it to be a bit flat and half empty, perhaps wrongly.

Now having several thousand people cheer in Trafalgar Square when Tosca stabs Scarpia - THAT is an atmosphere!

[William the White]

The NY Met Live in HD 2013-14 season.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/ ... einHD.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I cannot wait!!!!

What's the atmosphere in the cinema like when these are on, Will? I always imagine it to be a bit flat and half empty, perhaps wrongly.

Now having several thousand people cheer in Trafalgar Square when Tosca stabs Scarpia - THAT is an atmosphere!

Wish I'd been able to see that in Manchester - and thanks for the heads up on it, all the same. Have seen Tosca more than once, so regrets not too huge...

I've seen all of the NY Met in Bolton, Lancs, at Cineworld, 12 screens, gloop on almost every one... And three years ago maybe 60 or 70 in the audience... last season - 200-300, getting in the mood, picnic baskets, wine etc for the lengthy intervals, and cinema management ignoring - to their credit...

In London? It will be very full is my guess... But you ain't got much to lose... I get in for just over a tenner in Bolton... Even if you double it for London you have one of the truly great opera companies in HD and close up for a (comparative) pittance...

[William the White]

Well, the Opera season starts tonight, with the New York Met's production of Shostakovich's The Nose.

At Cineworld in the Valley in Bolton, and a cinema very near you, wherever you are...

The opera thread back on page one!