Which Opera would you recommend, for a first timer?

[piddocktrumperiness]

I'm hoping to take my partner to an opera as he has never been. I've been once before many years ago and saw Carmen but I was quite young and didn't really formulate much of an opinion that time. My partner and I love the theatre and live orchestra. He's not been to the Opera or Ballet and so I am hoping that this something we can do together.

I'm looking for an Opera that can entice us to go again. I would be very grateful for any recommendations.

Thank you :)

I’d suggest The Magic Flute. The plot is extremely silly, but it’s charming, fun and the music is sublime.

Where do you live - it will depend what's on near you

I would have said Carmen but Also La Cenerentola ( Cinderella) by Rossini, the Nutcracker ballet and The Magic Flute. Aida is always a fantastic spectacle.

The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart) or The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
Whatever you choose, play it around the house or in the car before you go to see it. Most brains prefer music that they’ve had previous exposure to.

Madame Butterfly

I would have suggested Carmen myself — lots of hummable tunes, some at least of which will be familiar. But as a pp said, it’s not as though there is a huge variety of operas on anywhere at any point! Would you be travelling to the ROH or looking for a touring company to pass through? Have a look at the ROH schedule for this season. Opera North has a La Traviata on at the moment, which would be another good choice for a first opera. And I think they’re doing Tosca in the New Year.

At this time of the year I would recommend The Nutcracker

Marriage of figaro, tosca, nabucco ... anything with grand chorus scenes.

I love Puccini's operas but they are sad so not for first timers

Cosi Fan Tutti is a good one to start with because it’s normally sung in English and is a good little story

@Prettypaisleyslippers

The nutcracker isn't an opera!

La Traviata by Verdi is lovely. Carmen is a good one too; I think I've seen it 3 times already.

The Barber of Saville is delightful for a first time Opera also Pirates of Penzance is very good great songs to sing along to.In January there are offers on for theatre tickets so well worth keeping a look out for them.

Yes I'd have said Carmen! The Marriage of Figaro is my favourite. Maybe Nixon in China if you could find it.

Thank you! Will look into them

More votes for Carmen or La Traviata.

Marriage of Figaro
When Don Giovanni gets his comeuppance the hairs in the back of my neck tingle.

Pretty easy plot to follow I think

I would have said Carmen too.
My favourite is Tosca because it’s so dramatic.
My niece had to see Don Pasquale by Donizetti as part of her uni course. It was her first opera and she enjoyed it. And she wasn’t into classical music. I’ve never seen it but it is a comic opera I think.

Carmen or Tosca for me..probably Carmen because it has a really clear storyline and tunes you will know!

Carmen, Madame Butterfly, Magic Flute, La Boheme

Tosca, Rigoletto, Otello.

Mágic flute !

Loads of the others are really sad and the woman dies. Which always annoys me personally !

or marriage of fígaro / barber of Seville.

Madame butterfly is beautiful but So Sad !

Get him hooked with the Bugs Bunny version of Barber, then see a real production of it. 😀

Definitely Carmen.

Die Fledermaus is lighter and, fun as long as you don’t set your expectations too high for the plot.

Make sure it isn't a weird version — the re-imagined La Boheme with somebody dying from cancer and jumping in time from modern day to the past would not be a good first-time one!

I started with The Merry Widow (technically an operetta) and loved it.

If you want to start going to both the ballet and opera, I'd take advantage of many places having a Christmas ballet — usually the Nutcracker or Cinderella in my experience — and save the opera for next year.

Depends whats on in your area but for a first time you could try Gilbert and Sullivan which is a bit lighter and fun