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 :)

Gosh, none of the overblown traditional repertoire. Find a company that tours small scale opera and go to that instead.

Should have said ‘small scale new opera’.

Most of those operas mentioned above would be enjoyable but I think it's important to have good seats. I've been both close to the stage and far above it in the gods at the ROH and up there feels to me like watching chess pieces moving about from a great distance. I don't enjoy being so far from the stage but of course the best opera tickets are outrageously expensive and that's why I don't go very often even though I love it.

Don Giovanni is in Don Giovanni, not Marriage of Figaro...

OP, I recommend watching the film Amadeus. It's a brilliant film anyway, but it also gives you a good taste of several Mozart operas in a way that will make you want to hear more.

The Marriage of Figaro is a brilliant opera. We saw it with subtitles which were brilliantly timed- it's really funny and the music is wonderful.

I also came to recommend the film Amadeus. And also to consider more modern or smaller scale opera. If you let us know roughly where you are [North, South, Scotland etc] it would be easier to recommend something on near you in the next six months. Met Live in cinemas is also amazing as you get to see the action up close.

Madame Butterfly or Aida

I would go with any of the popular Puccini tragedies first. These were my firsts and I loved them. I actually really dislike the funny ones and am all about the tragedies. I think it's because what I love from opera are the big arias and the emotion of it all. I want to have a tear in my eye. So if you go to, say, the Marriage of Figaro and it leaves you cold, I'd still try Madame Butterfly or Turandot as you may find you love them. Also I would make sure it's a surtitled opera and that your seats are where you can read them. I much prefer to be able to follow along with what's happening in the surtitles, it helps keep my attention. Also be open to what you liked and didn't like and the different type of voices so you can choose differently the next time if you didn't love your first one.

Tosca

Another vote for the Magic Flute.

It really depends upon where you are and what is playing. I’ve heard the ENO will be leaving London and has been defunded.

I wouldn’t necessarily do this I love Gilbert and Sullivan but on the two attempts I’ve made at ‘proper’ opera I’ve been asleep by the end of the first act .

Where do you live, OP?

Seconded.

Maybe Nixon in China if you could find it

Hmmm. Very modern, and totally different from the classic operas. Perhaps not a great choice for a first time.

Definitely not Nixon in China.

Hmmm. Very modern, and totally different from the classic operas. Perhaps not a great choice for a first time.

Have to disagree. Contemporary opera, preferably created by a writer and composer who are present to take a curtain call at the end, is the very best introduction to the form.

@piddocktrumperiness we would really need to know where you are in the country to make helpful suggestions. Or how far you want to travel - though it’s absolutely not necessary to travel to London to see excellent opera.

Anything by Puccini, especially if you can get to Madame Butterfly

Traviata! Great tunes.

I wouldn't recommend Puccini for a first timer personally.

A Mozart comedy opera sung in English.

Got to say, I hate magic flute. To start, find out what operas are being done and come back on here with a list for us to advise. They can get sold out early, especially the more popular well known ones. Ballet is also sold out early. Don't know what is coming up on that but some of the new ballets are really good. I went to Like Water for Chocolate earlier this year at ROH and it was wonderful and mad (definitely needed to have read the book before). We are going to a ballet there in the new year about Akhunaten, an Egyptian pharaoh. Other ballets think are good for a newby are Romeo and Juliet (made my first ballet neighbour cry and long to see another ballet asap), manon, firebird, alice in wonderland, swan lake, enigma variations. Sometimes, ROH film ballets and they are screened at selected cinemas briefly. Our local one is showing the production of Like Water for Chocolate that I saw in February so I will see it again.

Are you confusing this with the current ballet thread, @mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork ?

(Name envy, though …)

I think La Traviata is the most opera-ish opera. But if you decide to go I'd highly recommend you watch The Salzburg Festival performance with Anna Netrebko and Roland Villazon before you go. It may not be the most technically polished version but it really captures the emotion. It's probably available on YouTube.

Alternatively for light and cheery with catchy tunes you can't beat Gilbert and Sullivan, which is strictly operetta as there are spoken parts. I'd probably start with Pirates of Penzance ideally, or Mikado, or Pinafore; maybe Iolanthe for political lampooning.

Watch what the ENO at the Coliseum has got coming if you're thinking of London. They sing in English and have surtitles in case you can't catch the words. Pricing is reasonable. They have Yeoman of the Guard at the moment, which I don't think is the best G&S.

The ROH, Covent Garden, will have english surtitles, too.

No, OP said her partner had never seen opera or ballet so I discussed both. Glad you like my username!

wagner - flying dutchman

bartok - blue beard's castle

I live with an opera nut! I’ve sat in the best seats at the world most famous opera venues and seen countless operas. I am totally not an opera nut.

My choices Traviata, Magic Flute Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni maybe Tosca and Madame Butterfly but my first choice is Barber of Seville funny great music and doesn’t go on for hours.
I now refuse to see any others it’s a waste of money.

Mt next bit of advise based on years of -suffering- experience go to the best opera houses The Opera House La Scala Palais
Garnier or IMO uneducated opinion the best of the best Glyndebourne; it is I’m forced to admit wonderful, buy the very best seats you can office you’ll hear the worlds greatest singers and orchestra directed by the best in the business.

Good luck.