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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Opera doesn't deserve the elite image?

72 replies

KnitPurlKnitPurl · 03/05/2022 10:16

At the age of almost 49, went to the opera for the first time last night. Touring production of Carmen, tickets cost me £22.50 each through a Groupon type website. None of the preconceptions about opera applied. Yes it was sung in French, but there were subtitles. Nobody was dressed to the nines, DH and I were there in jeans and smart-casual tops and didn't feel out of place. It wasn't at all expensive when you compare with other sorts of entertainment (our panto tickets last year were double the price, it's at least £20 to get into a zoo or a theme park). It wasn't boring or difficult to follow what was going on. It was quite long at about 3 hours with breaks but so are some superhero movies.

Not saying it's turned me into a die-hard opera fan but it was a nice evening out seeing some seriously skilled singers and performers.

OP posts:
DifficultBloodyWoman · 03/05/2022 14:18

I'd also agree that the plot of the opera we saw last night was simple. Soap-opera stuff - the classic love triangle. It's an easy enough story whether it's 19th century Seville or Eastenders.

OP, that describes 90% of operas. And in 90%, the soprano dies by the end. But it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 03/05/2022 14:29

It's a straightforward matter of taste. I grew up with opera and classical. Parents were also fans of Dylan, The Stones and The Mac.

I bloody love opera, me. They were like the musical soap operas of their day, not at all elitist to their target audiences, but I think today the foreign languages make them sound a bit more elitist than they really are. I like Carmen because I can follow the French better than the Italian (she's also a strong woman who isn't above indulging in a bit of criminality and takes her sexual pleasure where she finds it. I love that but am unsurprised that Bizet was castigated for it back in his day). First time I saw Figaro performed was in English, which jarred a bit given I was familiar with the original but it was great.

I like many of the storylines, except for Madame Butterfly which people rave about but is one of my least favourites. A woman waiting on a shore isn't my idea of a great story (I like Puccini's La Boheme though).

I wish I was into West End musicals. I thought I'd like them, being a lover of classical recitals, rock gigs and ordinary theatre, but I can't get into them at all. They also cost plenty to attend.

Royal Opera house is costly to attend but some of the northern companies are great. I'm a devotee of Opera North. I've only ever worn casuals to the theatre, it would never occur to me to get all dolled up. But it's right up on my bucket list to see La Traviata at Vienna State Opera, in which case formal is definitely expected.

I'm so happy to have live performances back after the COVID desert. First stop Download Festival!

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 03/05/2022 14:34

NB. I'm not a fan of Wagner either, but also knows someone who says if you don't like Wagner you don't like Opera, and can sit through the entirety of 'The Ring' (in on/off instalments, obvs, as it totals 17 hours).

I'd be off my head by then!

mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 03/05/2022 15:30

I have been going to the ballet all my life and the opera since the 1980s when my sister, a dancer, got a job in the movement group of ENO, so we got free tickets to ENO operas. Nowadays, mostly we go to ballet at the Royal Opera House. I have frequently worn (clean, not scruffy) jeans to both venues. Drinks are overpriced and the wine pretty awful, so I don't buy it. I sometimes have a soft drink or something elsewhere beforehand. Re needing to know the story before. Google it for prior research. Otherwise pick up a free cast list when you get there, which usually gives a synopsis of each act so just read it before each act starts. It is important to either have a love of classical music or being open to acquiring one. I took a friend (in her 60s) to her first ever ballet (Romeo and Juliet) this year and it was a huge success. She was so moved, she cried and was determined to go again. I can't bear to see Madam Butterfly again (opera) as it makes me too sad.

Hillarious · 03/05/2022 16:05

When they first did opera in Holland Park, it was affordable - it no longer is. Back in the late 80s they used to do free live screenings in Covent Garden of the production that was taking place in the Royal Opera House, plus everyone came out to take a bow. That certainly doesn't happen any more. I've been to the ROH twice, and much time in the breaks seems to be spent hanging around for the toffs to finish their smoked salmon and Champagne. I do love Mozart, though, and welcome any opportunity for it to be widely and affordably enjoyed.

Meadowbreeze · 03/05/2022 16:07

I'm only slightly disappointed this isn't an opera Winfrey bashing thread lol

LetitiaLeghorn · 03/05/2022 16:10

I love opera. I've been to some where they teletext the translated lyrics over the stage which I think is a great idea because I'm not that up on the intricacies of the storylines.

LetitiaLeghorn · 03/05/2022 16:11

Meadowbreeze · 03/05/2022 16:07

I'm only slightly disappointed this isn't an opera Winfrey bashing thread lol

I love opera and I love to bash Opera Winfrey as well. I'm loving this thread.

Havanananana · 03/05/2022 16:32

In some other countries opera is not seen as elitist.

As for "The problem with opera is that they sing/wail/warble/screech in a funny way" here's Luciano doing just that ...

SleepingStandingUp · 03/05/2022 16:37

Havanananana · 03/05/2022 16:32

In some other countries opera is not seen as elitist.

As for "The problem with opera is that they sing/wail/warble/screech in a funny way" here's Luciano doing just that ...

My 6 yo heard this for the first time yesterday and declared he did like opera after all. Proud Mom moment 😁

I imagine opera is seen as less elitist if its routinely sung in your own language

VariationsonaTheme · 03/05/2022 16:39

Ballet is the same, incredibly accessible, pricewise, at the royal opera house. The seats I get are usually around £20. Cheapest ones we’ve had were £5 on the day tickets. And the stories really aren’t very complex. Some of them are non-narrative, and you can just enjoy the music and dance. Drink the free water though, drinks are extortionate.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/05/2022 16:40

Thing is for £15 you can even see it at your local cinema in some cases!!

BigFatLiar · 03/05/2022 16:42

When they were written they were the musical entertainment of the day, just like CATS or EVITA are nowadays. They're not that elitist in terms of pricing, even our local theatre costs an arm and a leg these days.

BigFatLiar · 03/05/2022 16:45

SleepingStandingUp · 03/05/2022 16:40

Thing is for £15 you can even see it at your local cinema in some cases!!

It's not the same watching at the cinema, there's something different about watching in the theatre with the actors & musicians on stage.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/05/2022 16:51

BigFatLiar · 03/05/2022 16:45

It's not the same watching at the cinema, there's something different about watching in the theatre with the actors & musicians on stage.

Show quote history

I agree, but if the idea of a large theatre and expensive tickets are a put off, it's a good way to see if it's at least something you'll e joy the sound of

girlwhowearsglasses · 03/05/2022 17:26

I bloody love Opera (used to work in it too)

My top tip is that like any music event - listen to the music a couple of times first. then you will get loads more out of the live music.

The plots are pretty simple to follow.. hence the phrase 'it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings' - that does usually happen...(thought the diva comes in all sizes now...)

Nobody has to dress up - even at the Royal Opera House - but it's sometimes great fun to dress up!?.

I have had some quite heartstopping moments at community or site-specific operas too.

Tip: if you're taking the kids for the first time, or you're under 30 you should be able to get cheap deals. They all have community engagement as part of the terms of grants.

My DCs have loved the few times we've afforded to take them. (DS1 Aida especially - it's about Ancient Egypt so of course he did Hmm)

girlwhowearsglasses · 03/05/2022 17:27

for £15 you can sometimes see it live!

CountryCousin · 03/05/2022 17:32

It’s a shame you missed this recent site specific opera event at St Pancras, OP. Great fun and completely free.

amp.theguardian.com/music/2022/mar/09/lost-and-found-review-royal-opera-house-st-pancras-station-micro-operas-transport-commuters

LemonTT · 03/05/2022 17:33

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 03/05/2022 14:34

NB. I'm not a fan of Wagner either, but also knows someone who says if you don't like Wagner you don't like Opera, and can sit through the entirety of 'The Ring' (in on/off instalments, obvs, as it totals 17 hours).

I'd be off my head by then!

Lots of Opera is accessible and enjoyable. I think it’s ridiculous to claim you cannot be a proper opera fan until you have gotten your head around the Ring Cycle. I did have to Google the plot when I did Wagner. Got tutted at 🤣

Its also worth trying the black tie events which really are proper social events. With time to have dinner in the 1st interval and then pudding in the second.

ChampagneLassie · 03/05/2022 17:39

I love opera, but my first experience was Glyndeboune where its black tie and fancy and I love the whole experience of dressing up and the day out. I don't know much about it, I don't tend to read the stories in advance I just love the experience.

FatOaf · 03/05/2022 17:43

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at OP's request

FatOaf · 03/05/2022 17:46

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request

breakdown19 · 03/05/2022 17:46

Were you on the cultural capital thread? I am
Glad you enjoyed

teleskopregel · 03/05/2022 17:51

I am a professional classical musician. I went to and studied many operas as a student, and still attend occasionally, but it took me years to be able admit to myself that I do not like most operas. I find them mostly too long-winded and boring. There, I said it!

I did learn recently that opera is part of the Italian school curriculum, which I thought was great 😊, just like art history is part of the German curriculum from grade 1.

Malbecfan · 03/05/2022 17:55

I love it too. We used to run school trips to the Theatre Royal in Plymouth for either Glyndebourne on tour or WNO on tour. Both absolutely brilliant. One Don Giovanni had a former student in the chorus which was lovely.

There isn't a lot of opera in this part of the world but I've been to see Paul Bunyan in Exeter - now seen 3 Britten operas, and the last one pre-Covid was Porgy and Bess at the Coliseum which was amazing. When I was a student, we could get Opera North tickets for £1...