Carmen at the RAH, anyone going?

[sparkle12mar08]

The Royal Albert Hall have a production of Carmen in Feb/Mar next year, to be staged in the round and dh and I have bought tickets for our birthdays I've never been to an opera before but am familiar with the main story and some of the score so I can't wait. Haven't a clue what to wear though as it's a matinee performance so full evening gear not required according to the info! Eeek!

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I didn't know that! Never been to an opera either but that seems like a good one to go to. If I go I will be wearing my normal clothes. (In fact all my clothes have equal status. It's a true democracy in my wardrobe, if nowhere else. )

[sieglinde]

I go to opera all the time. Basically, you wear what you like, though in the posh ie expensive seats you see people in long dresses. The only exception is Glyndebourne, where all men wear black tie - aka dinner jacket - and women tend to dress to match, which can be good fun. But my DH Siegmund always wears jeans...
Carmen is a brilliant starter opera!

[Katisha]

Sieglinde - you have some pretty tricky threads to start on Mumsnet if what I saw of you last night in Walkure is anything to go by!

[sparkle12mar08]

Thank you both - we've got top price Grand Tier seats and I am rather nervous! I've a couple of fancy tops that could be worn with smart trousers/skirts, and I think a lot will depend on the weather - February in London is likely to be very cold and wet! I quite fancy a matching fascinator too although the Style & Beauty bods would lynch me - fascinators are sooo last century apparently...

[Katisha]

Seriously - just wear whatever you want to wear to the theatre. I am in teh middle of attending 4 Wagner operas at Covent Garden in jeans and carrying a rucksack with a laptop in it because I have come straight from work and because I need to dash for the train afterwards. No-one bats an eyelid - they really don't.
(Although would advise against headgear!)

[sieglinde]

Katisha, yes indeed. Ok, ok, the incest thing, and the abusive husband, but she gets to be a really active and independent heroine.

Erm, your name??? 'Ah, 'tis Katisha. The maid of whom I told you.'

I was there at the ROH last night too, so snap. In a sundress because it's always so hot in the cheap seats. Well, not very cheap, really, but both my dcs and Siegmund were with me, so the best we could manage. I adored it; I'm a sucker for this opera. You?

[Katisha]

Yes I was there with KoKo DH. Will be there again on Sunday and Wed - are you doing the whole thing this time? We are in the stalls circle so actually I spent most of last night sitting on the floor because the top of the stage gets cut off where we are.

This is my first Ring Cycle. I am so glad we went for it - am finding it very intense and Bryn is on absolute top form IMO. Tend to agree with criticism that the production is a bit cluttered but the cast and orchestra are just great.

Sieglinde certainly gave it some welly.

I think I might need a more Wagnerian name after this.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

My experience of opera: .

[sieglinde]

Loved Bryn too - awesome, and better than for the Met, though I've only seen the DVDs of that. We're absolute centre of the Gods, as they used to be called - gives a fab view, but agree that the production is a bit of a mess - liked ACT III, though. I loved Westerbroek! Gave her the full standup treatment.

Lordcopper - love your name - I wasn't born into an operagoing family. Just go to youtube and search for Wintersturme, ideally with Kaufmann. If you don't like that, try Isolde, Liebestod, with Margaret Price. There you go - Wagner for ninepence. Or nothing at all, in fact. It's intense beyond words..

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I like classical music in general. It's the vocal thing that I haven't really got past (apart from Beethoven's ninth ). I'm going to see Peer Gynt at the Barbican in December though. Will youtube as suggested! Thanks!

[Katisha]

I find opera utterly dull on CD and on screen. But to be there in the flesh is something of an entirely different order. You have to let yourself get into the mindset, and with Wagner let the world sloooowww doooooown and then you're in!

[sparkle12mar08]

Okay, headgear idea scrapped! I'm more of what I'd call the opera-lite vein- I love the big arias, have a few compilation cds, have recorded programmes explaining opera off the telly etc, but never actually sat through a whole one.

[ChippyMinton]

DD and I went to Madame Butterfly at RAH earlier this year - she requested it for her birthday treat It was really good although I distracted her with sweeties at the end
No need to dress up, just be comfortable.

DH & I usually sit in the 'gods' at ENO. He once took an Australian visitor with him and she turned up in evening dress with a tiara. He was in jeans and a fleece.

[UptoapointLordCopper]

That's what I love about going to concerts at the south bank. A good range of attire. This sort of thing makes me happy, for some reason.

[Katisha]

Tbh I think the more casually you dress the more likely you are to be taken for one of the cognoscenti!

[UptoapointLordCopper]

I did go to one concert where a man sat next to the empty seat next to me and he positively stank of alcohol and cigarettes. Which I would not have minded too much, but he talked to me and spewed fumes on me. What does one have to do to be left alone? I even had a child with me. Is that not enough?

[ChippyMinton]

I have quite often seen people falling asleep