Any opera fans?

Stick8267

Saw Rigoletto at the ROH last night.

Absolutely fantastic performances, definitely one to try and see.

frgazza

I am a Wagner nut me and not the geezer on x factor!!!

ShutUpLegs

I use google chrome, but opera is ok

sloboy

We saw that production in 2006 and when I saw that Hvorostovsky was singing this time I was pretty tempted to go again.

Did Wookyung Kim carry off the Duke ok this time ? I think it was he when we saw it and frankly he was a weakness that upset the balance of the whole thing.

But the Rigoletto and Gilda parts were haunting.

afx237vi

I have a spectacularly idiotic question about opera. Please bear with me.

OK.

Here goes.

When you go to watch an opera... how do you follow the plot, considering they're all chuntering away in a foreign language? Do you have to follow along in the programme? Or are there subtitles beamed directly into your eyeballs using some kind of laser device?

Much thanks.

And yes, I too prefer Firefox.

Stick8267

[Did Wookyung Kim carry off the Duke ok this time ? I think it was he when we saw it and frankly he was a weakness that upset the balance of the whole thing..[/quote]

No he didn't. Singing was average and his acting reminded me of that episode from Blackadder III when Prince George has to deliver a speech and is coached by those terrible actors how to stand with his legs apart and roar.

Rigoletto and Gelda were simply awesome, however, and completely carried it. Made up for the Duke and some.

Ben6899

She was alright until she let herself go and stacked on a bit of kyte... I prefer Trisha.

Stick8267

afx237vi wrote:

I have a spectacularly idiotic question about opera. Please bear with me.

OK.

Here goes.

When you go to watch an opera... how do you follow the plot, considering they're all chuntering away in a foreign language? Do you have to follow along in the programme? Or are there subtitles beamed directly into your eyeballs using some kind of laser device?

Much thanks.

And yes, I too prefer Firefox.

Not an idiotic question at all. It's something that puts a lot of people off, which is a shame.

Once you know the story (which can be gained from the synopsis) the music and acting carries it. They also project surtitiles above the stage which you can read or ignore.

Remember an operatic aria may spend 10 minutes saying something that could be encompassed in one well constructed sentence so you don't need to follow every word.

I think opera is a bit of an acquired taste although some take to it immediately, like good bitter. The important thing is to see it live and not listen to it on CD. The music is paramount but it is supposed to be acted and seen.

You can always go to a production in English but it doesn't sound as beautiful.

afx237vi

Thanks Stick. Maybe I'll get myself along to the Wales Millennium Centre one day and see something there.

ddraver

afx237vi wrote:

When you go to watch an opera... how do you follow the plot, considering they're all chuntering away in a foreign language? Do you have to follow along in the programme? Or are there subtitles beamed directly into your eyeballs using some kind of laser device?
.

The subtitles are too the side or above the stage on a screen - you ever watched the rolling news below News24/CNN - that sort of thing

Most of the plots are fairly simple (wagner excepted) - boy meets girl, they fall in love, girl dies, boy is upset kind of thing, Although if it's Mozart someone will inevitably dress as someone else. That "bit from Shawshank" where Red says "I like to think those women were singing about something so beautiful it could nt be expressed in words." They re actually the countess and her chamber made (or similar) composing a letter to trick the philandering count that the chamber maid is in love with him so that the countess can catch him cheating on her

The other thing is that with alot of operas they are eitehr based on, or have been turned into, other fairy stories - For example Moulin Rouge is based on La Traviata

rick_chasey

I can't tell you how much I hate opera.

There's a lot I would do to avoid having to go to another one.

Horrible.

alex16zx

That's a bit of an extreme view, but each to their own I guess!

I saw the Welsh National Opera doing Strauss' Aridane auf Naxos in Liverpool during the week. It was brilliant, but the only downside was that the surtitles disappeared for about 20 minutes, and the first half has quite a lot of jokes and comic detail which I completely missed, as I don't understand any German whatsoever! The second half more than made up for it though. Probably taking my dad (who claims to hate opera but confesses that he did quite like La Traviata when he got taken to it once) to see Opera North's production of Carmen early next year.

I once went to see 3 operas in consecutive nights at the Hungarian State Opera when I was travelling - the surtitles were in Hungarian or German so I had to read up on the story beforehand with those! Great value for a couple of quid though.

Stick8267

Rick Chasey wrote:

I can't tell you how much I hate opera.

There's a lot I would do to avoid having to go to another one.

Horrible.

Nothing wrong with hating opera. Unless it's done well it can be extremely dull and has the capacity to be a long way up its own a**e. You have to pick the right one for you. I don't like all opera in the same way I don't like all rock or pop music.

Done well, however, it can transport you to joy or tears or love or lust....

Interestingly if Rigoletto had been anywhere but ROH it would have need a license for all the nudity and simulated sex at the beginning.

sloboy

Yeah - that McVicar fella is not really my bag - although the Salome production was pretty good.

kafkathedog

I saw Rigoletto at the Royal Theatre in Brighton a few years back.
It was a russian opera company as i recall.

There was some simulated sex, lots of nakedness and even a golden eagle on stage at one point.

difficult to read the subtitles when there are tits on stage :oops:

Recently saw Don Giovani at Glyndebourne which was pretty good.

Cleat Eastwood

Theres some class modern operas out there too if you keep your peepers open. Hans Werner Henze has worked with the mighty edward bond and if you get the chance try and see schoenbergs moses und aaron

deptfordmarmoset

My enjoyment of opera is limited to the Overtures. I can't stand the forced sound of the voices. There are some excellent tunes they're drowning out.

superfourben

I work as a stage manager for Glyndebourne opera in Lewes (East Sussex). I get to work on around 6 different operas every year and can quit often spend nearly 10 hours per day listening to opera. I can totally understand that a lot of people really don't like opera (i never used to like it!) but would definately urge anyone to go and see an opera at sometime in their life. Of course depending on the production it could completely ruin opera for you or it could make you a lifelong fan. After 10 years of constant exposure to opera I couldn't imagine a better job (compare working in an office, bank or on a telephone to spending every day listening to some of the most amazing voices and orchestras in the world and I know what I would choose!) and if you think you might like it, give it a try.

And to end, my personal recomendations:

Verdi - Otello (The first 10 minutes should start you off quite nicely!)
Handel - Giulio Cesare (Handel at his finest)
Wagner - Tristan und Isolde (Brilliant, the best bit is the end!!)
Janacek - The Macropulos Case (Not often performed but fantastic)
Dvorjak - Rusalka (The little mermaid)

the list could go on!!

PS Before anyone asks I do listen to other music, after a day of opera rehearsals a bit of jazzy drum and bass goes down quite nicely!!

Heckler1974

superfourben wrote:

I work as a stage manager for Glyndebourne opera in Lewes (East Sussex).

I live up the road from one of your scenery chaps as it goes (Clive). Small world eh?

Really must get along this year to see an Opera at Gyndebourne, haven't really got an excuse not to with being relatively local.

ConsciousPilot

I'm a fan of Opera dela Luna if that counts. Even joined the "lunatics"!