We are off to the opera.....

Posted by: hungryhalibut on 08 March 2015

The first opera I saw was La Boheme at The Hawth in Crawley. The second was Le Medecin Malgre Lui in Lille, and the next one is Turandot at the Met in New York in October. We are beside ourselves with excitement here at halibut towers! I've never seen Turandot, or been to New York for that matter. And the hotel we are going to was once a hangout of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Best get saving.....

Posted on: 08 March 2015 by Frenchnaim

New York might be a bit of a comedown after Lille... Sorry, just joking - I live in Lille.

This must be the first time the Lille Opera has been mentioned on this forum : there have been some excellent productions in recent years however, especially those under the baton (or "baguette" in French...) of  the resident conductor, Emmanuelle Haim.

Hope you enjoy Turandot - lucky you!

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by hungryhalibut

I really enjoyed the trip to Lille Opera, and Lille itself. The weird thing about the production we saw, was that the bar was closed before and after the performance, and there was no interval. I really fancied a glass of wine in the Opera, which is a lovely building. I suspect the Met might be a tad more fun though.

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by dave4jazz
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

And the hotel we are going to was once a hangout of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

And not far from the legendary Village Vanguard jazz club.

 

Dave

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by Morton

Oh, I am envious!

I went to my first opera in the mid seventies & have been hooked ever since,

I dare not think how much I have spent on this mad hobby.

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by hungryhalibut
Originally Posted by dave4jazz:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

And the hotel we are going to was once a hangout of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

And not far from the legendary Village Vanguard jazz club.

 

Dave

It's six minutes walk from the hotel. Let's hope there's something good on! Now I'm even more excited. Greenwich Village looks a great place to stay.

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by dave4jazz
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:
Originally Posted by dave4jazz:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

And the hotel we are going to was once a hangout of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

And not far from the legendary Village Vanguard jazz club.

 

Dave

It's six minutes walk from the hotel. Let's hope there's something good on! Now I'm even more excited. Greenwich Village looks a great place to stay.

My wife and I have had three visits to New York. It's an amazing city. Enjoy.

 

Dave

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by hungryhalibut

We are taking the lads too: they will be 18 and 20 by then, and they are not coming to the opera.....

Posted on: 09 March 2015 by ChrisSU
No wonder you had to sell your US!
Posted on: 09 March 2015 by EJS

Looks like you're in for a treat! The cast list for the October Turandot looks good (well, the cast list at the Met always looks good ), with James Morris taking the small but important role of Timur, and Marcelo Alvarez taking on Calaf (he recently recorded Nessun Dorma as part of his recital disc on Delos, BTW). Haven't heard the Turandots, but they're rising stars at the Met (except for Nina Stemme whose star is already way up there, but you'll miss her in October). 

 

Almost 15 years ago I saw Turandot at the Scala, myself - my first Puccini in the theatre. 

 

EJ

Posted on: 10 March 2015 by bluedog
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:
Originally Posted by dave4jazz:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

And the hotel we are going to was once a hangout of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

And not far from the legendary Village Vanguard jazz club.

 

Dave

It's six minutes walk from the hotel. Let's hope there's something good on! Now I'm even more excited. Greenwich Village looks a great place to stay.

Washington Square Hotel?

Posted on: 10 March 2015 by bluedog

One of the best operas I've ever attended was Tosca at the Met in the '90's - Pavarotti and Sherril Milnes. Pavarotti was in fine voice, even at that age. Milnes not sang very well but actually did some fine acting too as the villainous Scarpia.