CCL

I came looking for a thread like this a couple of weeks ago and I found it very interesting and helpful.  I’ve seen Carmen and La Boheme a couple of times each in the past, but have never pursued the idea of getting into opera any further and had never been to the opera at ROH until last night. After reading this thread, I booked for the Angel Blue cast in La Traviata. I ensured that I listened to some different recordings (Spotify makes this so easy) and that whetted my appetite so that I was ‘ready’ for last night. I know that there are many very experienced opera goers on this forum who have probably seen many Traviatas, but oh my goodness, I really loved it all - the singing, the staging, the music, the audience response- I was on a total high when I got home and couldn’t sleep for ages because I was replaying the whole thing in my mind! I thought Angel Blue was gorgeous as Violetta, she took me with her the whole way through. I was grinning with delight during ‘Sempre Libera’, shaking with sobs when she soared in ‘Que fai?…nulla’ and in pieces for ‘Addio del Passato’. Popov as Alfredo was charming and earnest and Stoyanov as Germont sounded absolutely wonderful in the ‘Dite alla Giovina’ duet, and got rousing applause for ‘Di Provenza il Mar’, quite rightly. I also loved the party scene in Act 2, scene 2 - very dramatic and compelling.  One thing that surprised me was how unlike the curtain calls were to the ballet - principals only, no flowers. …? It was a wonderful coincidence that the new season announcement came out yesterday, as I plan to see lots more opera. I definitely want to see Tosca, Turandot and the Magic Flute, for starters. I watched the Insight Masterclass with Pretty Yende, which I found fascinating, and it piqued my interest in Tannhauser - ‘Oh du, mein holder Abendstern’ is certainly beautiful but perhaps attempting Wagner is running before I can walk! Any thoughts?

I didn’t attend the ROH for a number of years (children, lack of income, etc) but started to come back about a year before Covid- and kicked myself  for all the productions I’d missed out on. So I’m really happy at the thought of being able to see Mayerling and Woolf Works and delighted at further opportunities to see Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. In fact I’m pretty excited at everything on offer. Furthermore, as an opera newbie, I’m very interested in what’s on offer there - so many operas I’ve yet to see! This announcement has really made my day.

I was also in two minds about booking but the cast details are tempting. I’ve just downloaded the book on iBooks for 99p to whet my appetite (no pun intended!)

Dawnstar, I’d very much like to hear your thoughts on Friday’s performances. A persistent back problem has prevented me from attending any of the recent Swan Lake shows so everybody’s comments on this run of performances has been extremely welcome. 

My first ever opera post…I’ve booked for Angel Blue on Wednesday 6th. I’m really looking forward to it!

Re Sadlers Wells performances, I booked very quickly as I really want to see this production and thought it might sell out quickly. I really don’t mind who I see but Singleton/Gittens would be my dream pairing for the two main roles.

@NogoatThank you for that utterly heartfelt review- your words were beautiful and true

I’ve booked for the Saturday matinee and must confess to being tremendously excited. Of the three pieces the only one I have seen previously is ‘Rhapsody’ and that was a long time ago, so I think this will be a real treat! I’m really happy with the casting, too.

1 hour ago, Ian Macmillan said:

Re the Paywall:  Try copying the article title from the FT site into Google and there's every chance that you'll be able to get in, possibly via answering a question or two.  No idea how putting Google in the loop helps, but it frequently does for me. 

It worked for me, too! Thank you for the tip, Ian!

My view is that an incestuous affair is not canonical. In such a strict patriarchal and Catholic society it would have been scandalous. Tybalt is the Capulet heir as Lord and Lady C have no male children. There’s no mention of Tybalt’s parents so it’s possible that he is seen as a surrogate son. When Lady C mourns for him, it’s not only for the death of her brother’s child but also for what he represents, the future of the Capulet family.  In Shakespeare’s time, there was no ‘in law’ distinction, I believe, so your brother in law was considered your brother, son in law was your son, etc, hence ‘my brother’s child’. All that being said, I like MacMillan’s representation of Lady C’s overwhelming grief as it underlines the terrible human cost of the brawling. 

Juliet’s soliloquy where she weighs up taking the potion makes reference to the bones of her ancestors and of plucking ‘the mangled Tybalt from his shroud’. I’ve always assumed that the bodies were interred in the tomb uncoffined. 

I’m really happy that Serrano made such an impact as Mercutio. I was really impressed with him at the Wednesday matinee, and there was great chemistry between him, Hirano and Donnelly

Thank you, Rob! I couldn’t quite make out facial expressions at the curtain call from my eyrie in the Amphi, so these are lovely to see!

Hamilton gave everything as Juliet this afternoon. Her journey from wide-eyed innocent in Act 1 through the ecstasy of falling in love with Romeo to her anguish and isolation in Act 3 was heart-rending. Hirano was a dreamy, boyish Romeo in Act 1 and once he had met Juliet, ardent and impassioned. Great chemistry between them. I also very much enjoyed Gary Avis as Tybalt and the dazzling Mercutio of Francisco Serrano - wow! What a lovely way to spend my day off

First interval- what a gorgeous balcony scene!

I’m going to the matinee today! I was excited anyway but Reece Clarke as Paris sounds particularly intriguing. About to get my train now…

Have just read the press release - very excited to read of the plans. Lots pencilled in that I’d like to see!

I start with adieu or taupe

This just reminded me that it’s Wordle time! I am hooked too and have a little competition with my daughter each day to see who did best. 

An absolutely delightful evening tonight- three superb leading performances and at the curtain call an announcement from Tamara Rojo that Emma Hawes and Aitor Arrieta have been promoted to Principals. Very pleased for them both!

I’m delighted to read all the positive reviews. I think I’ll ignore the waspish words of Slipped Disc. I cannot wait for Friday evening!

I was sorry (selfishly, for me) to hear this news whilst simultaneously very pleased for Ms Rojo that she has been given this exciting and well-deserved opportunity. She will leave the ENB in a very good place. I shall miss her input and I shall also miss seeing Isaac Hernandez dance; I have always enjoyed his performances.

17 minutes ago, capybara said:

 

Completely agree and Velicu is a First Artist (still).

Yes, I find that amazing- she was very assured and gave a lovely, nuanced performance 

Francesca Velicu and Isaac Hernandez made a lovely partnership last night. Their grand pas de deux was swooningly romantic and reduced me to a soggy mess. I was relieved and grateful to be able to see the production after the original performance I’d booked had to be cancelled. I’m not usually in a Nutcracker mood in January, but last night’s performance was truly delightful.

I’d love to see RB perform Fille and/or Cinderella. I’d definitely be delighted to see Onegin again as I’ve only seen it once, just before the first lockdown, and I’d like to see it from a different seat - I was in the balcony and the view was a bit restricted. I don’t know Mayerling at all and would really like to see it.

 I would love to see BRB’s Giselle again; I was blown away by the performance I saw at Sadlers, end of 19. There is a lot of their rep that I’m unfamiliar with, I regret hugely that I didn’t see Hobson’s Choice when I had the chance. When did they last perform Sleeping Beauty? I would LOVE to see BRB dance this.

I’ve seen quite a lot of ENB over the past few years. I really enjoyed Etudes at the 70th Birthday Gala so I’d be happy to see that again.

 I don’t see Northern Ballet very often. I’d like to see Madame Butterfly. My aim is to see NB at least once this year.

My final wish is for Carlos Acosta to take On Before on tour again.

Wishing all mods and members a very Happy New Year!