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 :)

Not strictly an opera but I really really enjoyed Jerry Springer the opera.

Die Fledermaus was my first opera and it was a fun production.

I've been on at my DH to come to the Opera with me for over 30 years. About 10 years ago he took the plunge. We saw Carmen and it got him hooked. It is a really dramatic story with a lot of tunes he's likely already heard bits of.

The Magic Flute is also good, lots to look at and while very operatic, very good music.

He also loved the Flying Dutchman - but has baulked after 2 of the 4 of the Ring Cycle so i have to do those on my own. He also really enjoyed The Turn of the Screw and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

La Boheme every time (sob!)

My partner had never been to an opera and so I booked to see Madame Butterfly and he absolutely loved it. It was a fantastic introduction with an easy to follow plot and absolutely beautiful music. Winner.

Mimiiiiiiiii

I think this is great advice (except I'm afraid I wouldn't even bother with any Mozart!)

Whereas I’d happily consign all of Puccini to the waves.

I just think that, while that will obviously work for some people, for many it will be a bit like reading experimental contemporary fiction without ever reading a realist novel. I saw an excellent new opera recently —- Edna Walsh and Donncha Dennehy’s The First Child — but it’s not one I’d have taken a first-timer to, microtonal score, no conventional storyline etc.

And there’s also the excitement of a big orchestra and a lavish production which grabs a lot of people who are new to opera.

Id actually been to a lot of opera of the less obviously popular end of the 20thc repertoire (Korngold, Berg, Bartók etc) because of a friend who worked in opera, before I finally started to love it. My falling in love moment was The Flying Dutchman with Bryan Terfel in the lead, at the ROH.

Carmen

Carmen is a great first opera, drama, colour, familiar tunes etc. My teen dc saw it performed on a stage in the middle of a lake with Carmen diving in when she escapes from prison. They were obsessed!

Going against the grain...

King Arthur, by Purcell! It's in English, for a start, so it's easier to have foggiest idea what's happening. Plus, everyone knows a bit about Arthur. It also contains 'Fairest Isle', which is sublime, and a rather fun aria which is featured in one of the early series of The Crown (the Churchill portrait one - 'What power art thou' is the aria).

Oh. To go back to the grain: Cavalleria Rusticana, by Mascagni. Got the Easter Hymn in it - very famous - and a beautiful and similarly well-known intermezzo. Very dramatic!

You could try one of the ROH live screenings first. I’m going to a ballet one tonight at my local theatre and trying Turandot as my first opera next year.

Ok at the risk of sounding like an opera snob a live screening is simply not the same thing. Live is always better. I went with a friend to the D'Oyly Carte production of the Mikado live screening, (Ive seen the live performance quite. few times and really love its a great night out although technically not an opera) and hated it. It's just not the same. The atmosphere is important and you don't see the whole stage all the time at a live screening and it is all about the whole thing the often extravagant sets and costumes the orchestra the conductor even how the audience respond to various arias etc or laugh at the funny bits cjat in the intervals
This is why for me Glyndebourne wins hands down the gardens the atmosphere is unique, the singing is literally world class, people go and want to enjoy themselves, its just a shame that good seats are so expensive. I think my opera loving partner paid £235 each last time we went but frankly its worth every penny to see their wonderful production Barber of Seville. Most opera snobs lovers don't like it translated into English and as sub titles are always provided its slightly unnecessary.
It's good to know the basic outline of the plot before you go it wont spoil it I promise. Download Kobbes opera guide it will tell you what the plot is.

Agree with you @Dressageconvert . I actually don't really listen to any opera music at home but love going to the opera. It's being able to physically feel the singing and how special that is. So even if someone doesn't like opera music on the radio or cinema screen they may love it live. I'm the opposite of an opera snob but agree that live is completely different.

Would you suggest Carmen for a 13 year old? If love to take DD to see an opera too, and my first thought was Carmen as I saw it as a teenager and I only remember the music. But reading the synopsis back now and might be a little risqué? Wanted something more mature than the nutcracker but not too over the top. What's a good first opera for her?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record Barber of Seville is light hearted fun an easy to follow plot the usual fairy tale type story a goody and a bady and a pretty girl romance money and no money and humour combined with great music. When I saw it at Glyndebourne there were children there who seemed to be enjoying it and one very elderly lady said to "frankly I cant stand opera, its my husband who loves it but I'll always come and see this its such a fun night out"'.
The D'oyly Carte production of the Mikado is also great fun, Richard Suart has been playing Koko since time in memorial maybe not a world class singer but he acts the part so well and his always up to date version of a "Ive got a little list" will I would have thought bring a smile to the face of a 13 year old.

I listened to Carmen with my mum and grandfather since childhood. I don't think it's particularly risqué, but it's so wild, passionate and colourful and there really is never a dull moment. The only thing That might be problematic is that it's quite violent, albeit the violence happens offstage. That's clear from the way she dies at the end, not to mention the earlier little scene where she nearly gets incarcerated for stabbing a co-worker.

To me, it's pure nostalgia and takes me back to my earlier years.

La Traviata is a huge favourite of mine and I also love La Boheme (but not Mme Butterfly in the least). The Marriage of Figaro is also great for a first-timer, really fun, lighthearted and entertaining.

Wish I was about to experience my first opera. La Traviata at the state opera house in Vienna is definitely one for the bucket list, but I'm a great fan of Opera North: brilliant company and a lot less expensive than Covent Garden.

Attending live opera is of course fabulous but not always possible. Both the ROH and the Met regularly broadcast performances and I'd suggest going along to some of them.

The Met are due to show their family friendly Magic Flute soon. It's shortened, in English, and focuses more on Papageno (the bird catcher) than on Tamino and Pamina as in the full opera.

www.metopera.org/season/in-cinemas/theater-finder/

Or try this fabulous movie version of Puccini's Tosca - another opera full of great tunes and a story that is easy to follow. It features a stellar cast at the top of their game:

Thank you for all your suggestions. I live in the South West and am happy to travel to London if needs be :)

I would say to avoid Rigoletto and La Boheme. I found both extremely dull and disappointing. The Barber of Seville was OK. I loved The Pirates of Penzance when I saw it at the Minack Theatre. I loved Carmen but did find it a bit long.

Came here to say Marriage of Figaro as it’s lovely, and there is a happy ending, and nobody dies. However if that’s not the opera experience you are looking for, and you would prefer to weep copiously, then you can’t beat La Boheme.

I hope you have a wonderful time.

Any Mozart opera is a good choice, they feel more accessible than many of the Italian ones. I also agree with suggestions above that operetta may be a good gateway. Gilbert and Sullivan (Pirates of Penzance, Mikado et al), Merry Widow or die Fledermaus are often easier to grasp the plot because there is connecting dialogue to carry the story forward. And all are usually performed in English too.

Aggripina?

My first opera was at 5 years old, it was La Traviata, I was mesmerized, I have now seen it 4 times and it's my absolute favourite!