[westtip]

Originally Posted by The Green Pixie

It's fine if you sit in the stalls. I don't know what the sound is like in the other parts of the theatre.
I've seen 3 operas there - La Boheme, Rigoletto and Giulio Cesare, each time I sat in the stalls. The Handel got a bit lost as the hall is huge. I'd say T&I won't have that problem.....

Box on the docks as I call it. I don't like the theatre for opera but this is only based on one visit to the cheap seats in the gods for SNO rigoletto. Agree with GP the size of the theatre loses a lot of intimacy - having said that if the voices are good and the orchestral playing good it should be able to carry Tristan, for anything more intimate agree with GP sit as close as possible. I wouldn't miss a Wagner opera in Ireland - we get so little of his great all consuming music drama and as Tristan is in my top five all time greatest operas ever written why would I miss this one. Personally I like to be engulfedin the volume of the music - and would want to sit as close as possible. But that is for total immersion of the mind body and soul into this sublime work of art!

[Sandwlch]

A decent winter season in prospect at the Belfast GOH : Otello, Zauberflote, La Clemenza di Tito, Dido and Aeneas, and Die Fliegende Hollander.

Down in Bailoutland, Aida from Lyric in the Gaiety, and Tristan and Isolde in the GCT seem to be the meagre pickings. Maybe a reduction in opera productions was in the fineprint of the Troika's conditions to us.

[westtip]

Originally Posted by Sandwlch

A decent winter season in prospect at the Belfast GOH : Otello, Zauberflote, La Clemenza di Tito, Dido and Aeneas, and Die Fliegende Hollander.

Down in Bailoutland, Aida from Lyric in the Gaiety, and Tristan and Isolde in the GCT seem to be the meagre pickings. Maybe a reduction in opera productions was in the fineprint of the Troika's conditions to us.

Indeed meagre pickings. There appears to be no cohesion on how the money (the very meagre money) from the arts council will be spent on Opera - our best little opera company OTC seem to have been shafted. Cullen left a disgraceful legacy from his time as Minister.

[marienbad]

Originally Posted by Sandwlch

A decent winter season in prospect at the Belfast GOH : Otello, Zauberflote, La Clemenza di Tito, Dido and Aeneas, and Die Fliegende Hollander.

Down in Bailoutland, Aida from Lyric in the Gaiety, and Tristan and Isolde in the GCT seem to be the meagre pickings. Maybe a reduction in opera productions was in the fineprint of the Troika's conditions to us.

Could you give some more info on the Belfast GOH , I can only find Zauberflote ?

[Sandwlch]

Originally Posted by marienbad

Could you give some more info on the Belfast GOH , I can only find Zauberflote ?

Dutchman is from NI Opera in February. Exact date to be announced.
The other 3 are from Opera North:
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/
Filter the results by Region selecting Belfast and you can see the dates.

A very decent selection for a small 'provincial' theatre.



Also, for Dublin, I think I did read somewhere that NI Opera will restage its Hansel and Gretel from last year but not sure of any details. Saw it in Belfast. OK, not great.

[westtip]

Originally Posted by Sandwlch

Dutchman is from NI Opera in February. Exact date to be announced.
The other 3 are from Opera North:
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/
Filter the results by Region selecting Belfast and you can see the dates.

A very decent selection for a small 'provincial' theatre.



Also, for Dublin, I think I did read somewhere that NI Opera will restage its Hansel and Gretel from last year but not sure of any details. Saw it in Belfast. OK, not great.

yes good to see ON returning to Belfast with its repertoire on tour - means we can benefit from UK AC funding and see some subsidised opera rather than paying exhorbitant prices in the box on the docks.

[marienbad]

Originally Posted by Sandwlch

Dutchman is from NI Opera in February. Exact date to be announced.
The other 3 are from Opera North:
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/
Filter the results by Region selecting Belfast and you can see the dates.

A very decent selection for a small 'provincial' theatre.



Also, for Dublin, I think I did read somewhere that NI Opera will restage its Hansel and Gretel from last year but not sure of any details. Saw it in Belfast. OK, not great.

Thanks , I know where I will be next March

[Sandwlch]

Surprised no one has given the thumbs up to OTC's Orfeo.

After some dodgy productions lately, it is their best job for some years (since the various Handel 3-4 years ago).

The staging was excellent, dynamic and good looking, the cast of young singers all did well, and best, the band of period instruments (except the unpleasant sounding smallest keybord one - I dont know its name but it spoiled the music a bit for me whenever it was used). And, previously unknown to me, the splendid music of Monteverdi. Despite its antiquity and relative rarity, I would think more easily accessible to the occasional opera listener than Handel for example. A very good choice by OTC.

Only a few dates left, but try not to miss out on a treat, and support good opera work in Ireland when it is there.

[Fluorescence]

Originally Posted by Sandwlch

Surprised no one has given the thumbs up to OTC's Orfeo.

After some dodgy productions lately, it is their best job for some years (since the various Handel 3-4 years ago).

The staging was excellent, dynamic and good looking, the cast of young singers all did well, and best, the band of period instruments (except the unpleasant sounding smallest keybord one - I dont know its name but it spoiled the music a bit for me whenever it was used). And, previously unknown to me, the splendid music of Monteverdi. Despite its antiquity and relative rarity, I would think more easily accessible to the occasional opera listener than Handel for example. A very good choice by OTC.

Only a few dates left, but try not to miss out on a treat, and support good opera work in Ireland when it is there.

I agree - I thought they did brilliantly in Tallaght on Tuesday night. A wonderful performance by both singers and instrumentalists, and an excellent translation. Normally I'm not terribly fond of operas in English, since they lack something for me, but I thought whoever worked on l'Orfeo did a magnificent job.

The keyboard instrument you're thinking of is called a Regal. It's a small, portable, brass-reed organ. It hasn't got the most beautiful of sounds, admittedly, but they were quite popular in the Renaissance and Early Baroque period to which Montiverdi belonged .

[e naper]

Hi Everyone,

We are holding our annual opera for the 13th consecutive year here at Loughcrew House and Gardens, Oldcastle Co. Meath.

This years performance will take place Friday 20th and Saturday the 21st July. We are pleased to present "The Marriage of Figaro" produced by Opera a La Carte and directed by the renowned Nicholas Heath. There will be a contemporary circus act by Fidget Feet warming up the evenings events.

The evenings entertainment will all take place within a specially constructed circular marquee set in the stunning surroundings of Loughcrew gardens.

Tickets are usually sold out quite quickly in the weeks running up to the event but are currently available on the website www.loughcrew.com/opera_booking.html or via telephone at +353 049 85 41356

[westtip]

http://www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie/...nd-isolde.html

sorry I missed the Orfeo - out of the country most of the time it was on glad to hear the positive comments - I hear Tristan is being advertised on RTE radio. Prices as ever a bit steep - but it is five hours of lush Wagner so worth it in my book.

[Fluorescence]

Anybody going to the Opera in the Park series? I missed the first one last week

[TAlderson]

I'm an American who's headed to UCC for an MA in ethnomusicology, but my undergrad degree is in classical voice. I was pretty disappointed to look at the schedule of the Cork Opera House and find only one opera (and a short one at that!), Dido and Aeneas, in their schedule along with a selections concert. Does Cork have any other venues or companies that stage operas on a more regular basis?

-Tyler

[Sandwlch]

Originally Posted by Sandwlch

A decent winter season in prospect at the Belfast GOH : Otello, Zauberflote, La Clemenza di Tito, Dido and Aeneas, and Die Fliegende Hollander.

Down in Bailoutland, Aida from Lyric in the Gaiety, and Tristan and Isolde in the GCT seem to be the meagre pickings. Maybe a reduction in opera productions was in the fineprint of the Troika's conditions to us.

Add in Cosi Fan Tutte from OTC. Dates to be announced.

Nozze may have more musical peaks, and Don Gio the more powerful drama, but if I were to be 'condemned' to having to watch the same opera for the rest of my life, Cosi would be my choice; the most perfect opera musically, with impeccable grace and balance throughout.

[marienbad]

Originally Posted by TAlderson

I'm an American who's headed to UCC for an MA in ethnomusicology, but my undergrad degree is in classical voice. I was pretty disappointed to look at the schedule of the Cork Opera House and find only one opera (and a short one at that!), Dido and Aeneas, in their schedule along with a selections concert. Does Cork have any other venues or companies that stage operas on a more regular basis?

-Tyler

Hi Tyler, I think you will discover that the title Cork Opera House is a bit of a misnomer- I am afraid there is no venue anywhere in Ireland where you can see opera on a more regular basis.

Good look with your degree though, you will have great fun and by the time you are finished you will have an extra curricular degree on ''The Irish Pub Voice'' and at no extra cost , bar a few hangovers.