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.

All three, but Opera only twice. Mostly just out of curiosity. Classical concerts against single figures.

I don't like opera. I've been to recitals.

I've been to many classical concerts, ballets & live theatre.

Oh yes, been to classical concerts too. I was a regular at the CBSO in the Simon Rattle era, sitting behind the orchestra - it was so exciting.

(a) actually only once, I'd like to go and we do live near Glyndbourne!
(b) tons and tons. Live in the park Shakespeare every summer and whatever else gets my fancy.
(c) my tickets for a London Philharmonic Orchestra playing in a nearby town arrived today, yay! I've been going to classical music several times a year for 10 years now.
At Xmas they did The Snowman with an orchestra near me, if they do it again, I'll take my daughter.

However: i am aware in the minority of people i meet, and am painted as boring/twee for doing so by some!

never been to the opera because I don’t enjoy that sort of music. Have been to theatre and classical music concerts loads though.

All three plus ballet.

However, I have only been to about three operas and that was over 30 years ago not long after we married. PILs were very keen on opera and tried to enthuse us. I tried, I really tried, but I didn't enjoy it.

I love the excitement of a large professional orchestra playing live. My parents weren't really in to classical music but the school I went to (local Comprehensive) ran regular coach trip to the nearest city to see classical concerts and I started going from about 15.

Yes to theatre. Love west end musicals and a bit of serious theatre locally.
Opera at Sydney Opera House once only and left in the interval ....it was Marriage of Figaro so lots of familiar music/songs (arias?) but neither of us enjoyed it. (Maybe now we are older we could try again)
Classical concert, no never been. I love a bit of familiar classical music when I'm ironing but that's it.
One experience of live ballet, Nutcracker, when dd was about 8. Loved it and would love to go again but no way dh would. Could always go on my own but it hasn't happened yet.
I consider myself reasonably well educated (post grad) and well read, but culturally I'm a Philistine. (I don't enjoy art galleries either). Delighted that my son has somehow acquired a taste for these cultural activities - no thanks to me and dh.

All three, regularly, though opera less often than when I lived in London, though I still go to opera relays in the cinema and touring productions whenever they’re here. And there’s a well-known opera festival annually about fifty miles away that I go to. I probably go to a classical concert at least once every three weeks or so — my workplace (university) has a resident string quartet which has regular lunchtime concerts, and hosts performances from other musicians, ditto the city school of music and arts centre. And there’s a fair mix of touring theatre and smallscale experimental stuff, augmented by big festivals several times a year.

Love opera and go as often as I can. If I won the lottery I'd be watching every production at ROH and by ENO. Also go to classical concerts and to the theatre, as well as to the cinema and to art exhibitions. DH and I also have our favourite bands that we go and watch play live. I can't imagine life without art & culture, its my greatest pleasure.

I love going to the theatre - especially musical theatre which lifts my spirits like nothing else can.

Yes, all three many times. Mostly b, several times a but admittedly only a couple of times c

I love opera, classical music and theatre - I grew up with it. Until we had DC we were regulars at Royal Shakespeare and are longstanding devotees of Opera North, based in Leeds. They are world class, but suffering alongside most of the arts for lack of funds which is a crying shame.

We haven't been able to go to many live events since having DC as we have no support/babysitters close to us. DC is coming up to secondary school age, so hopefully this will change in the not-too distant future. In the meantime we are making do with Marquee TV!

It's on my bucket list to see La Traviata at Vienna State Opera. Would be hard-pushed to pick between that one and Carmen as my favourite.

"However: i am aware in the minority of people i meet, and am painted as boring/twee for doing so by some!"
Not by me, @GingerLiberalFeminist . I think we'd have some good conversations if we ever met up. Boring to me is clothes shopping, beauty stuff, reality TV, and I think I'd pass out with boredom at a spa day. But, and I'm glad about this, we're all different and that's what makes humans so interesting.

Love the theatre. Been to see plays, opera and music.

Sadly rarely do I go now as it's far too expensive.

Opera (once)
Theatre lots
Ballet a few times.
Classical concert - no.

Yes, all three, but it's not a cheap hobby and I can see why people don't want to fork out for it, if they're not sure they'd enjoy it.

I've never been to a football match. I don’t enjoy watching sport and wouldn't want to pay for it. Some people would find that inconceivable.
Arguably football is a huge part of the national culture and I'm missing out by not taking an interest. But I'm not interested in it. Not in the world cup. Not in the Euros. Not in the premier league. Not in the local club. Not in the work five a side team 🤷‍♀️

b quite a few times & c a couple of times. I did watch a couple of operas on CH4 once but wasn't for me.

Mostly b for me.....i saw Madame butterfly on stage. Couldn't stop crying!!! Same with Romeo and Juliet

Yes, as a young person with parents.
Does nothing for me.

I think that's fine though. You've had the chance to find that out.

All three, hut mostly B. I love live shows.🤎

All three, frequently (three evenings a week at one or another), plus football, theme park and festival (rare, only football is my thing and getting tickets now I don’t live locally to my team is an issue). I get the cheapest seats in the house, use seat-filling sites, and am happy to try out fringe and amateur stuff which is usually very cheap or free. I joined several arts venues by annual subscription, so get cheap tickets that way, too, with no booking fees.

I'll take the spa day - love them! - and do find shopping boring unless it's poking around vintage stuff and flea markets. I like the challenge of finding something more unusual and better quality than on the high street. I also love a rock gig or festival! (Unfortunately those are far more expensive than a theatre ticket as a rule, but for some reason not so many people see that cost as prohibitive).

But I'm with you on the others - just not interested at all. What I don't compute is when personal taste is dressed up either as intellectual snobbery or 'lowbrow' - not saying that's happening on this thread but it does, a lot. I unashamedly watch and listen to some right old bilge - not excluding internet content - and I also love classic literature, cinema and arts (not West End or Broadway-style shows, though). Different interests for different moods. Arts and popular culture are for everyone!

I’ve been to all three, although mainly b). I used to go to classical concerts with friends, but haven’t been for ages. DH has taken to live opera recently. He will go to see ballets with me. We go to see an opera or ballet whenever a touring company visits locally.

We mainly go to see West End musicals, although not as often as I’d like, because they have got so expensive! He also likes to see comedians and the Special Forces staff on SAS: Who Dares Wins live, so we see them on tour too.

Theatre a lot - not opera or classical concert. I'm in my 50's.
I love theatre, musical theatre, and ballet.
I wouldn't rule out opera or classical, now that I have more time.
A lot if people obviously can't afford to go.