Welsh National Opera Give It A Go – But Is Opera Really for Everyone?
Social media theatre fans, won’t fail to have noticed a campaign by the Welsh National Opera (WNO), to convince us that their musical art form is for everyone. Actor Steve Speirs is the front man for this campaign and under the hashtag #OperaPassion, he sets about dispelling the myth that opera is an elitist art form and that anyone can go and enjoy it.
But is this really true? I’ve been to see the WNO quite a few times over the years. The first time was when my legendary and dearly departed piano teacher Ann Keenlyside, gave me some tickets because her son Simon was performing in Die Fledermaus at the Bristol Hippodrome.
The one lesson I learned from this experience, is that if you are going to watch opera, don’t do it from the Upper Circle Slip Seats. Invest in some tickets in the stalls or a box. Your circulation and back will thank you. The side of the stalls is also fine and tends to be cheaper than the middle. But if you need surtitles make sure you can see them from your seat. For the best seating advice in any theatre always book directly at the theatre’s box office.
After sitting through Elektra at about ten years of age in the stalls (reallocated), I made the decision to only go and see operas I would enjoy. Life is too short and this is a well learned second Opera Going Life Lesson.
Despite their over fondness for Pachelbel’s Canon, it’s fine to be a Classic FM listener if you prefer that to Radio 3. Having a mix of full length opera and Best Opera Arias in the World CDs is also fine. If you only want to go and see Mozart operas rather than Verdi, again, it’s fine. It’s fine to laugh at The Barber of Seville rather than forcing yourself to sit through the entire Ring Cycle if it’s just not your thing. Unfortunately, there’s still an elitist pecking order in the world of classical music. The best thing to do is just ignore it like you would a toddler temper tantrum. Go and see what you know you are likely to enjoy, even if they are the popular ones. They are popular because they are good fun.
Another really important Opera Life Lesson is to make sure you are comfortable. Dress up if you like, but it’s also not the Royal Opera House and if you are preparing for a four hour performance with a double interval then dressing comfortably is key.
And this is where the opera going demographic tends to put noobs off. The WNO is aiming to diversify opera audiences and hurrah for that. Currently, audiences tend to be white middle class fifty plus somethings who have raided M&S and have a bit of an attitude- that’s going by my own personal anecdata. And this is really sad because opera absolutely can be for everyone but there’s a definite barrier that needs to be broken down. Most of that is attitudes, plain and simple. If you are most relaxed in a pair of jeans and Converse, chavvy trackies and tatty trainers then who cares if you are comfortable. I’ll take that over Per Una and Boden as the hands creep closer to 11pm.
Go to opera for the fun ones. The Barber of Seville, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus. When you’re ready, try something different. This time I’m seeing Eugene Onegin for the first time. And Absolutely not just because Nicholas Lester is in it.
If you are worried about not understanding the plot, then Google is your friend. If you are worried about not following it, there are usually surtitles. If you are still not convinced, then have a watch of the Steve Speirs video. The actor from Merthyr Tydfil is going to be performing in Die Fledermaus as Frosch the jailer. It’s going to be a fun one.
Opera absolutely is for everyone. I’ve had a fun half an hour flipping through old theatre tickets I’d forgotten I had. Amongst the opera and ballet tickets are Bristol City Football Club match tickets, Manic Street Preachers, The Specials, Madness, Coal Chamber and The Offspring, all happily nestled next to Sadler’s Wells Stubs and Radio 3 lunchtime concerts at St George’s Brandon Hill.
It would be a shame for people to write off opera because they think it’s not for them. It is for ‘them’. It’s for everyone.
The WNO is going to be at The Bristol Hippodrome on the following dates in 2017:
Wednesday 15 November Eugene Onegin – 7.00 pm start
Thurssday 16 Nov From the House of the Dead – 7.30 pm start
Friday 17 November Die Fledermaus – 7.15 pm start
Saturday 18 November Die Fledermaus – 4.00 pm start