STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Irene · Dooney & Bourke

Anyone in NY ever been to the Opera.

dc · Dooney & Bourke

Irene - Obviously, I am not in NY, but I have been going to the opera pretty much as long as I can remember and have been all over the country and around the world. So even though I haven't been in NYC yet, maybe I can help (I did read a book about the Met! LOL...).

My advice? GO. Make your first opera a "biggie" - something by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini (I am a fan of the Italians, can you tell? Also love the Russians and French. I am *not* a big Mozartian, though Don Giovanni could be a good first choice and it's really the only one of his I'd see more than once). Regular opera seasons are wrapping up right around now (they go fall-spring), making way for the summer festival circuit (Glimmerglass, Santa Fe, other outdoor stuff). The Met is doing performances in the park, including my favorite, Tosca (that would be a good first opera):
http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/news/detail.aspx?id=101
The only thing is, it gets really crowded and you mgiht not see much. But it's a good opportunity for a picnic!

Next season, beginning this fall, the Met has some great choices - it's almost a "greatest hits" of opera! For your very first opera, consider La Traviata (you'll recognize it as the one Julia Roberts went to in "Pretty Woman" - it's about a doomed courtesan, sort of the high-class escorts of their day). Tosca will also be performed. Other possible firsts, Die Fledermaus, which is more of an operetta, about some hijinks at a masked ball, and Rigoletto, a tragedy about a court jester/clown and his beautiful (doomed, of course) daughter. Aida might be a little ambitious, but cool (I am seeing that at Savonlinna in Finland this summer - the best place I have ever seen an opera, incidentally... it's in a medival castle). Manon is loooooong and will put you to sleep - not much action. Oh - Carmen is coming in October - you'd LOVE that. I can't stand Cosi Fan Tutte (it's Mozart, and like I said, I do not like Mozart operas).

Anyway, here's the press release for next season:
http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/news/detail.aspx?id=93

And don't neglect the NYC Opera. They are also doing Tosca, and also Mme Butterfly (a solid 1st opera - you'll recognize it as the one ripped off in Miss Saigon). And Turandot, which has some of the prettiest music, IMO (I'll be seeing it at Santa Fe this summer)... and it's Puccini, and anything by Puccini is a crowd-pleaser.

Don't be intimidated - it's entertainment like anything else. You can find reasonably priced seats if you buy in advance, and just make a date night of it, or get brunch and go to a matinee (that's what I do for my Virginia opera subscription w/my Mom and Dad). It's NOT about full-length dresses, etc unless you're headed to opening night or something like that. Little black dress is fine.

DO IT!!!

-- Edited by dc at 22:56, 2005-06-01

Irene · Dooney & Bourke

OMG! Thank you Thank you Thank you! So much information there. Now I really want to go. I want Gary and I to go to the Opera in our finest duds...lol! I will check out the links you posted.

I was also considering goin g to the ballet, but Gary thinks that ballet is gay (ugh! guys!).

Thanks again for the info.

EDIT: Oh, you wouldn't have any info on Art exhibit openeing would you? Ever since watching SATC, that is another thing I have wanted to do. LOL!

-- Edited by Irene at 06:57, 2005-06-02

shopgirl · Kenneth Cole

the opera is fantastic, and i use it as an excuse to get dressed up -- regardless of where i'm sitting.
there are two free operas in the park this month that my husband and i plan on attending. i won't be getting gussied up because we'll be sitting on the ground. it's a great opportunity to have a picnic and spend the day outdoors. and if you're not keen on the performance, you can always leave. get to the park early because people will start scoring patches of grass in the morning/afternoon.

ejnoy,
deborah

Metropolitan Opera In The Park
Tuesday, June 14 and Wednesday, June 15, 8:00 pm
(Rain date Thursday, June 16)
Great Lawn
Mid-Park from 79th to 85th Streets
Join the Metropolitan Opera as it performs on the Great Lawn.
* Tuesday, June 14, 8:00pm - Tosca by Giacomo Puccini
* Wednesday, June 15, 8:00pm - Samson & Dalilah by Camille Saint-Saëns
(Rain date Thursday, June 16

http://www.centralparknyc.org/thingstodo/music

Starstuff · Kenneth Cole

Hi Irene,

Congrats on your interest in the opera. I've been going to the Met regularly since I was 10 (City Opera, too) and I'd recommend you and Gary start with one of the classics -- Carmen or La Boheme. Both are filled with recognizable tunes and the story lines are pretty straightforward. Also, you might be better off with comic operas to begin -- they tend to be shorter and the music and scenery aren't (usually) dark and somber. Also, the Met season is over, so you and Gary can go to City Opera during the summer -- the theatre is smaller and it feels more intimate.

As for ballet -- I'd also start with something that is recognizable -- Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty. Both stories are familiar enough that you won't get confused about what is happening in the plot, and the music is beautiful!

Art openings -- are you talking about galleries or museums? Usually, museum members are invited to openings. The 'level' of opening you're invited to depends on the level of your membership. My FH & I are members of the Met Museum and we're invited to the 'members preview' openings, where members get to see the exhibit a day or two before it officially opens. Unfortunately, our level of membership doesn't equal our level of enthusiasm for the place, but hopefully that will come in time. Openings with wine, cheese, and curatorial talks are usually reserved for higher-level members. FH and I live near the Met, so we go there often and they have late hours on Fridays and Saturdays, so we can go after work, etc. MoMA has great opening parties, too.

Hope this helps, and have fun!

-- Edited by Starstuff at 10:30, 2005-06-06