or La Boheme or am I pushing it here?

no babyitter and he likes classical music. Do you think they are suitable for a 9 year old?

TIA

Well, I would say, no.

My mum took me and bro to all sorts of stuff when we were young. We always ended up leaving at the interval as we were well bored.

Liking classical music and sitting quietly through a whole opera are two diferent things.

Maybe? But you know your son. Can anyone else at all babysit?

Hmm. My neighbour might but I also don't want to go alone. It's dependant on me getting paid, Carmen's on on the 31st October so it also means I won't have to take ds trik or treating.

I've taken him to see live orchestras for 3 hours before (his idea, not fun for me), he sat through it all.

Well if you think he's up to it.

Mum took DH and I (with rest of my family) to Carmen last year. DH was getting pretty twitchy way before the end... If I'm honest so was I!

If he's done it before though I wouldn't worry.

If it was a good production I would take him to Carmen. But it would need to be excitingly done.

Why not go alone? It's not exactly uncivilised. I strongly approve of doing things alone from time to time to prove to yourself you still can. Sounds perfect! You can have a cocktail!

I would say a big YES. Children love stories and it may be that he gets hooked by all of the excess around opera. dd is 8 and I would love to take her to an opera, now that you mention it.
ds will love the orchestral pieces and get inot the story if you explain it a little.
if it doesn't work then fine. But to be exposed to this stuff is wonderful. I saw my first opera at 36 y.o. and felt confounded at all I had missed out on.

It's not the same as classical music as there's no people singing at the top of their voices. Would it be rude if I took a book for him just incase?

where is it on, choccy?

Who's doing it?

They have subtitles so we'll know what's going on. It's Ellen Kent and Ampitheatre productions for what it's worth.

here

I would have loved it.

Am a bit weird though.

If there's enough colour/drama, then go for it.

I'd give it a try.

I assume this is an early performance?

Taking book fine, but still think 9 YO it's quite a long performance to sit through.

Also bear in mind there may be sex!!

The production of Carmen last year had one topless lady at the front washing her boobs in a bucket. It's a very sexy opera.

I'll buy the tickets (hoping I get paid before or we won't be going) just before and see how it goes. They are turning the theatre into a bull ring. I'm sure he'll love that.

both carmen and la boheme dramatic enough to keep him entertained, i think carmen a little better maybe as more drama and manly involvement and not as sad as la boheme.

saw both when i was young and still remember them fondly.

not at all a problem to take a book.

as with new and interesting food like trying mussels or sushi, best to make it seem like as normal a thing as spaghetti bolognese. so going to opera should be same as going to cinema or out for an icecream rather than some unbelievably special event- makes it much less pressure for all of you and much much more enjoyable.

is that in Derby, then??

Looks like a pretty traditional production from the website - I reckon you;d be safe from the sex!

Ohh! I didn't know about the boobs. It's a 7:30 start so it's not too bad. He tends to over his eyes when people start kissing so he wouldn't notice (I hope).

Blimey my last post sounded a bit weird. But it's true that Carmen is about a woman with a lot of sex appeal and men fallng at her feet. Just depends how that production does it I suppose.

Also interesting to note that in a film with sex, batrayal and lots of murder, a 9 YO would def never be allowed to go. But because it's classical, like, it's fine!

It's in Derby. They have had opera here before but it's normally after christmas and I've been too poor to go.

I have to start somewhere. I'll keep an eye out for breasts. The lady in the box office will warn me anyway??

If it's in Derby, may I offer an alternative oper-goer, IF you have doubts over ds' ability to stick with it??

Would you like to come?

I'd love to! Carmen was my first opera, and it was very disappointing. Sung all in English with the diva from the Home Counties. Just didn't work. IT was Opera North, and a bit..well, unsatisfying.

This one's sung in french. OK. My neighbour owes me loads of babysitting so I'll see if she's free. If she can't babysit (she will unless she's working away) then I'll be going with ds, he's very well behaved.

Are you in Derby?

A friend of mine is taking her 7yo to see this very show if that's any help Phantom.

Tho I will say that the Assembly Rooms is a pants venue (uncomfy seats, stage too small, no orchestra pit, bad view).
<helpful>

Hi clary: Yes. I hate it too. I always end up with a dead bum! Beats trick or treating though.

The playhouse is very nice but they are having a load of problems at the moment. It's very sad.

Maybe we should have a mumsnet group and get cheaper tickets.

Am in Glossop, at the north end of Derbyshire - about 90 mins away? We don't get much opera in Glossop! And Manchester is a bit hit and miss. And to see a good Carmen would be excellent. And I am off work on 31st.

Whehey! Ok then. La boheme is on the next day awell. Decisions decisions!!
I would do both but the NHS have to pay me first so it'll have to be one
I'll pop round next door tomorrow and see if she's free.
I'm avenanap by the way.

Ah yes Derby Playhouse.

A nice theatre but not big enough to stage big productions like this.

I would book for Peter Pan there but afraid would lose all my money looking at latest machinations.

Took 5yo DD and then 6yo DD (same child) to see Ellen Kent's ballet at Ass Rooms this year and last and she loved it. Bit long for her and late but she took it well. Tickets were freebie tho so wouldn't have felt I'd wasted cash if she hated it...

and I am Pan.

I could do La Boheme, but that means re-organising something, which I don't mind. Haven't seen La Boheme, so that would be good also.

Oh you're avenanap, didn't know, thought had spotted a new derby-ite!

I have a solution to that (I think), get some other people who want to go and pay for them on a credit card, the total needs to be above £100, then the ticket money is refunded by the credit card company if the theatre goes belly up. You get your money back. In theory that is. They have had some dire plays. I went to watch Moonlanding, a child from ds's old school was in it. It was terrible. The acting was not good and there were outbursts of singing (wailing). Terrible. The Christmas Carol which was on a couple of years ago was really good though. It has so much potential.

I don't know how to wangle free tickets, I'll have to pay.

You can only try it, but don't expect a 9 year old to be inspired. I reckon its a bit young. Nice if you introduce this later. After all how does anyone know what they enjoy unless the've experienced it.

Oh, sorry to disapoint. I name changed in a big way for halloween. I'm keeping this one though.

I'll be really poor if I do both. I don't think she'd babysit for 2 either. Hmmm. I could do beans on toast for a week.

Quite right witch. ds is a very bright boy though so I think he'll get it. He'll like the orchestra at least. I'll see if my neighbours free though.

avenanap. Mail me at robski1@btinternet.com. I know we can sort something out about the tickets. I'm sure it will be fine. And at the moment, either shows will be good.

Bed time now.

Ok. Night

phantom actually i chased credit card co re tickets for Treasure Island and they said I would need to have insurance with them which would cost something like 10% of credit card bill <madness>

Luckily they reopened so we were able to see it anyway.

Agree Moonlanding overblown and overambitious.

Freebies come through my job but I have to sing for my supper too.

I thought all purchases over £100 were automatically protected.

I'm going to wait for the day and buy them on the door. It is sad though. The caterers have pulled out so they have no restaurant, there was an article in the telegraph about the financial side last week so it's not looking good.

I've started a thread in local about a meet up for christmas if you are interested.

BTW my favourite opera is Carmen. Just thought I'd add that.

Would you like to come too?

Love to, will bring DD, she is a bit of a culture vulture but has never seen opera, yet.

OK. I will email Pan and tell her that the children are joining us. The tickets are a bit expensive though, they start from £18, £2 off for concessions. A group is 10 so we need 4 more.

If you are around Derby I'm hoping to organise a christmas drink. I've started a thread on the local bit.

Carmen would be FAB.
I plan on starting DS1 on the Magic Flute. (one day!) They've heard lots of opera but never a whole one.

Thanks . I'm excited now. I'll show him bits on You tube tomorrow so he'll know what it's about.

I take ds to New Zealand Symphoney orchestra concerts and he's 5.

I work at a school who had 10 boys aged 9-11 in the production of Carmen we had locally, so if it's okay for them to be in it - it's definitely okay to take a child the same age to watch.

< cough > ...You mean "I will email Pan and tell him that the children are joining us"?

Sorry . I assumed you were female. It was very, very, very bad of me and I shall have to buy you a drink to make up for it.

Could do one child free and one with children? I don't think ds would be interested in la boheme. He's not into romance and stuff.

No matter. My fault as I had assumed netters knew I am a daddy rather than a mummy.

mail me in any event?

Carmeen rther than la boheme - it's more exciting imo

I too was in Carmen when I was 9

I have emailed you pan.

I think ds will like Carmen.

avenanap - no email arrived as yet. Did you put the "1" in? common error.

I think so. I sent 2 as the first one missed the s off. Try mine, jouelsie at fsmail dot net.

Done so!

lol! Thanks for that. ds is very easy going and so confident that he puts me to shame so you are welcome to both or either. It is very embarassing! I shall give you a call tomorrow.

I have taken children of that age to Ellen Kent operas before. However it has been because they have taken part in Act One and their parents want to watch the whole opera.

They are big spectacular productions and depending on the child they may be fascinated.

My 7 year old might be in it next year at one of the venues if I pick her and I may let her watch the rest.

So. Ds has decided to go to Megazone instead with his friend and his friend has booked him a ticket. I'm not happy about him going as his friends mum is not going to be there (his friend's 11, knows the staff and mum's contactable via phone). ds is asthmatic by the way.

Pan's not going to the opera now so do I go alone/sit in the cafe at Megazone?