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From classical to pop, join the discussion on our Music forum.

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From classical to pop, join the discussion on our Music forum.

Music

opera recommendations and education.

34 replies

NewLife4Me · 16/11/2015 20:14

Can anyone recommend a couple of Operas I could buy on dvd for dd aged 11.
We either haven't the time nor money to attend productions atm and she loves watching and listening.

She already has La Traviata on dvd and the cd of Maria Callas.

Also, can anybody recommend a good book for education purpose. It needs to be child friendly but not too immature as she knows quite a bit already.
I have checked the usual Opera companies but she is unable to attend the workshops and family day stuff.

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Bunbaker · 16/11/2015 20:39

Operas with a of of arias are easier to "digest" than those with a lot of sung dialogue.
Carmen
The Marriage of Figaro
Aida

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TheComforter · 16/11/2015 20:41

Came on to say La Traviata! That is the ultimate opera for me.

La Boheme?

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Bunbaker · 16/11/2015 20:46

La Traviata is my favourite as well.

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Maestro · 16/11/2015 20:53

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NewLife4Me · 16/11/2015 20:53

Carmen is on soon at manchester, but I can't afford tickets this near to Christmas, there is an offer on but only off the highest price tickets.
Then I find a more reasonable priced viewing such as local cinema but then dd is at school. It's so difficult.

Thank you for the suggestions.
I will take a look at La Boheme and Carmen on dvd.

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Maestro · 16/11/2015 20:54

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NewLife4Me · 16/11/2015 21:24

Thanks Maestro.

I thought dvd and book as a Christmas present, she is so hard to buy for and loves anything opera.

I'm not very knowledgeable at all, is there a particular company to look for i.e which is the best and any particular singers you'd recommend.

I really should learn a bit more, but it's her thing really, although I do enjoy it once I'm watching or there.

What's the one with The Hebrew Slave music, I do like that it sends shivers down my spine.

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Auriga · 16/11/2015 21:31

Mozart The Magic Flute

There's a shortened version on CD for children - excellent singing in English. We used to play it in the car and DD adored it.

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Fiddlerontheroof · 16/11/2015 21:42

Try the cunning little vixen....lots of animals in that one. Also hansel and gretel, Humperdinck is fab...try this version www.amazon.co.uk/Humperdinck-Hansel-Gretel-Metropolitan-Opera/dp/B001D6OKV0/ref=sr_1_10?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1447709706&sr=1-10&keywords=hansel%20and%20gretel&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 through read the crit to check you are happy with its suitability for her age....same with Carmen, some version are more risqué than others!

Have a look at welsh national operas touring schedule, they tour more in England than in Wales and they reduce tickets for anyone under thirty.

Harry Enfield did a video guide to the opera with opera north a few years ago which I think you can still buy.

You can also buy book like the penguin guide to opera, have a look on Amazon, lots there. Xx

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Bunbaker · 16/11/2015 21:52

The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves is from Nabucco. It sends shivers down my spine as well. We saw Opera North singing it at Opera in the Park in Leeds several years ago and it was wonderful.

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NewLife4Me · 16/11/2015 21:53

Fiddler

Genius, she sings Bother come and Dance with me.
had forgotten this, oh you star.

Thank you for suggestions and links all.

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Gruach · 16/11/2015 22:04

Have you already dismissed Opera North OP? They generally have lots of materials and activities around each performance.

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NewLife4Me · 16/11/2015 22:08

Bunbaker

That sounds fantastic, what a brilliant experience. I'm looking forward to hearing lots of live performances as dd gets older, and we have more time.
But we have to wait for a bit.

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NewLife4Me · 16/11/2015 22:14

Gruach

It's hard with school, she only has saturday aft and Sunday until tea time.
I do plan to do more on long weekends and holidays though, it's just fitting everything in.
Then of course there's gigs as well as she's into jazz too and shares this with dh.
Classical concerts, opera, is mine to share. Lucky me

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Holstein · 17/11/2015 00:30

WNO recommend starting with Magic Flute, then Carmen.

I have to say their production of Magic Flute (in English) is utterly enchanting, and hilarious, but sadly not available on DVD.
This is Royal Opera House/Colin Davis version which seems well-regarded.

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Maestro · 17/11/2015 12:10

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NewLife4Me · 17/11/2015 18:13

Maestro

You're enough of an expert for me

I'm not sure if the quote is a good or bad thing

So far I ordered some from The Met because they were more modern and had better reviews for sound quality.
I got La Boheme and Carmen, but will also get Marriage of Figaro as that sounds fun and I know she likes this, from the clips she has seen and a couple she sings from this.

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Maestro · 17/11/2015 20:16

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NewLife4Me · 17/11/2015 21:28

Maestro

That is beautiful, so relaxing.

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Maestro · 17/11/2015 21:40

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Justaboy · 17/11/2015 21:52

The Glyndebourne production of Hansel and Gretel is superb. I think it was released on DVD .

Short clip here. Hansel and Gretel play at home in their ever-so-poor cardboard city home!.

Enjoy:)

Here we are!. worth looking at.

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Justaboy · 17/11/2015 22:05

Maestro Hary Janos eh!, don't see that performed or heard much these days. Thank god for youtube and that cimbalom, love to hear one live:)
Very quirky work heard this some 45 odd years ago and loved it since then!

Bit here featuring the Japanese player Junko Sakimura

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NewLife4Me · 17/11/2015 22:24

Ah, wonderful I will hear these in their full glory.

The hansel and gretel song, do you know if this translates to "Brother come and dance with me" or are these just English Lyrics written by somebody else.
We have the English lyrics, but am looking for the sheet music.

This was truly amazing and what opera should sound like, imo.
I'm going to have to find this now.

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Justaboy · 17/11/2015 22:34

Yes brother come and dance with me sounds about right!. I have got a double CD by Charles Mackerras but its in English and its nowhere near as good as it sung in German!.

Drop Glyndebourne a mail per the reference to it above, they'll I'm sure tell you if its got the German to English translation.

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LBOCS2 · 17/11/2015 22:38

Have a look at your local opera house or venue - a lot of them do reduced tickets for youths and/or students, as they're trying to widen access to the arts. I know that the ENO used to do a scheme called 'Access All Arias' which was free to join and gave very reduced tickets to under 26s - you could buy two per performance no matter how old your guest was, and it was something like £30 per ticket for the dress circle, £20 for the upper circle, £10 for the gods (or restricted view). Given that there's a national scheme for theatre performances I'd be surprised if there wasn't more similar on a local level.