have you been to see live theatre/opera/concert?

[buggeroo]

we are professional (classical) musicians, so think nothing of going to see an Opera, classical concert, live theatre etc.
However, I've recently had 2 conversations with a family member and a head teacher that they have never been to a live (classical type) concert or theatre show/play.

So it's making me wonder - how many people have been to..
a) an opera?
b) a live theatre production?
c) classical concert?

I was suprised that these two people hadn't been to any of these, but should I be? I don't know?
Thank you.

Couldn't agree more! My first opera was The Magic Flute - which has a great story with lots of action, and the added bonus that they actually speak in between the arias, so you understand better what's going on.
DD has a Tonie figure with the Magic Flute and really wants to see it. Hoping it'll come to London again some time!

My first and only opera experience was a three hours endurance without an intermission of three women in shell tracksuits who were meant to be nymphs. It was sang in English so I didn’t get the full opera experience I was expecting. On the advertisement the nymphs had amazing costumes and hair and I was looking forward that. The newspaper reviews I read after said if this is anyone’s first experience of opera then the they feels sorry for us.

Only B (and thats only if musicals count!)

@SparklingSpa I know the performance you mean!

Men have some sort of obsession with Wagner. DH has 10 different recordings of the Ring Cycle and apparently needs more.

At least with opera, there are always bits you can like, even if you didn't like all of it (the exception for me being Berg's Lulu - I asked DH if he hated me for making me go). It might be the music, a particular singer, the production, the costumes but there will be something.

A friend went to a production of Ariadne auf Naxos which the director had decided to have an octopus porn theme. FFS. She said as long as she kept her eyes shut it was fine as the singing and music were fabulous.

All three, plus ballet. DH had never been to the theatre before we met and he was in his 50s then. He doesn't like classical music, ballet or opera so I don't go to those now, unless with someone else, but we go to the theatre quite a lot and he will occasionally come to a performance of something at the local cathedral, if my grandson is singing. He likes 80s music - I can't stand it - so each to their own!

All three.
Theatre most regularly. But all of them. Have also performed in theatre and classical concerts.
Oddly, I don’t generally consider going to the Opera these days but used to when I visited friends in Exeter - the Northcott was great for opera and ballet.

Never been to an opera - but not my thing. Go to the theatre perhaps 6 -10times a year been to prob 20 classical concerts. Go to lots of gigs (mainly heavy metal) large tours prob 10 times a year- loc as l gigs prob 2-3 times a month

When I do theatre trips with the kids from school it is quite often the only time they will ever experience it.
It's so important to do this

100% it’s important that kids realise what is out there.

We were really poor growing up. Never went anywhere every couple of years we would eat out in a Little Chef which was similar to dining with the Queen in our eyes. Most people at my deprived school were the same..

it wasn’t until I went to uni that I realised a whole world was out there. Our corridor went out for a curry, I had no idea what to order and how to order. My friends parents took us out to a night at the theatre with a meal before..I could believe it - it was a years worth of entertainment in one night - I was utterly mesmerised. It’s being able to experience these things that drives you on and makes you want to succeed.