Treading a fine line between "cool" and "wanker".

I've wanted to visit Austria and in particular Vienna for many years, and one of the things I wanted to do was see an opera when I got there. This time, _vargr_ did some research before we went, and we booked tickets to see a very appropriate opera - Fledermaus, itself set in Vienna in the 19th century by a composer rather famous in the city.



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I saw this way back in June, but I simply haven't had the time to review it.

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Handel! Baroque opera! People standing around in frockcoats and periwigs singing endlessly and interminably.

Handel.

Baroque Opera.

This is Handel as you didn't expect to see it!



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BLOODY HELL! Iestyn Davis...countertenor...



Going to see Rodelinda in a few weeks, really pleased I paid a little extra to get a seat in the upper circle as I found the baroque instruments a bit quiet from the balcony during Medea.

Ooooh-er, a bit o' Handel, this is gorgeous. I am agog!

I know a lot of people who love Phillip Glass operas. Two of my co-workers adore his work, telling me it is quite "unmissable." This is my second Phillip Glass, and I confess I was not hugely impressed by the first one I saw. However, based on my previous experience, I made sure to bring some strong coffee. crazycrone refers to Glass' work as "trancelike" and in this she is not wrong, though equally, you might refer to it (as I do) as soporific.

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Satyagraha at the ENO. All pictures taken from the ENO Facebook.

Aida at the Sofia Opera and Ballet, Bulgaria. (Photos taken from their website.)



Now if I'd been more organised, I'd have booked before my trip, but as it was, we just showed up on the day and were offered the last few remaining tickets for about 5 quid. The receptionist lady tried to fob us off with 3 quid tickets but we refused to go cheap!

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An opportunity to see Iain Banks' Cult Novel turned into an opera and staged at the Royal Opera House.



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Photos by Ben Frost for the ROH

Three reviews in a week! Ah well, tis the season.

I was still recovering from a shitty cold when I staggered out to the ENO for Die Fledermaus. No worries though, as this is one of my favourite operas and I was looking forward to a top quality staging.



All photos taken from the ENO Flickr site.

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All photos taken from the Eno flickr site.

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Ah! PTSD! Mental illness, I did rather suspect this was not the sort of opera that would tick my boxes, but hey, can't complain with a 7 quid ticket!

All photos taken from the ENO flickrstream as usual.

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