2002: A Cultural Summary

[tamaranth]

[Oh look, it's raining.]

Last year, according to the tickets stripped from the kitchen noticeboard, I saw:
- 9 classical concerts (of which 5 were Proms, + 1 Prom-in-the-Park)
- 5 operas (2 of which were The Fairy Queen, by Purcell)
- 1 ballet
- 15 plays or similar (of which 2 were Macbeth)
- 3 gigs (Siouxsie & the Banshees: Oyster Band: Alabama 3)
- 16 films. Well, 9 films. (Fellowship of the Ring 6 times, The Two Towers 3 times ... pretty good since it only came out on 18th December ...)

The ticket stack is looking pretty empty right now ... still thinking of upcoming concerts!

If you're interested in seeing any of the following, leave a comment ...

ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA
Berlioz - The Trojans part 1 - Jan 27, 31: Feb 5, 12, 15, 21, 25, 27
Berlioz - The Trojans part 2 - May 8, 10, 14, 16, 23, 29, 31: June 3, 7
Verdi - Rigoletto - Feb 7, 10, 14, 20, 22, 26: Mar 4, 6, 8, 11, 14
Ruders - The Handmaid's Tale - April 3, 5, 9, 11, 14, 25: May 2
Handel - Alcina - April 16, 19, 24, 26: May 1, 3, 7, 9, 15, 17, 22

CONCERTS (many at South Bank Centre

Saturday 1st February '03 (2pm) - operetta film at the Barbican - Offenbach, Orphee aux Enfers / Mesdames de la Halle ... there's a whole season of these, but mostly G&S, though they are also doing Die Fledermaus on 22nd Feb

Saturday 8th Feb '03 - Maurizio Pollini at RFH - lots of Chopin (Nocturnes, Barcarolle, Berceuse etc), plus Debussy Preludes Book II.

Thursday 27th February '03 - King's Consort + James Bowman, Robin Blaze, Carolyn Sampson at Wigmore Hall - 'Hail Glorious Morn', misc Purcell

Sunday 16th March '03 (3pm) - Jane Eaglen at the Barbican - Song Recital inc lots of Bellini

Saturday 22nd March '03 - Kronos Quartet, Barbican - Terry Riley: The NASA Project - Sun Rings

Weds 2nd April '03 - Andreas Scholl, Camilla Tilling / Scharoun Ensemble at Barbican - Gubaidulina (Hommage a T S Eliot), Pergolesi (Stabat Mater)

Thursday 10th April '03 - King's Consort + James Bowman, Michael Chance, Sarah Connolly at Wigmore Hall - Handel Gala Concert

Sunday 4th May'03 - Daniele Gatti, Royal Philharmonic at RFH - Beethoven Leonore Overture, Piano Concerto #3, Symphony #7

Tuesday 3rd June '03 - Daniele Gatti, Royal Philharmonic at RFH - Beethoven Symphonies 8 & 9 - featuring Jean Rigby, Amanda Roocroft, Stephen O'Mara, Alastair Miles

Comments

I've never been to the opera!

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

And I think I may be up for The Handmaid's Tale. Though I suspect I'd enjoy Rigoletto a lot more. Grateful for advice. One of those, anyhow. My sister-in-law might also be interested, particularly if it's Rigoletto; we have a vague plan to go to the opera one night leaving our various men to babysit.

[brisingamen.livejournal.com]

Considering I've seen the Fairy Queen with you three times, and two of them weren't last year, this looks perilously like a fixation to me.

By the way, I did email you my interests on the ticket front a while ago. Still got them?

M.

[green-amber.livejournal.com]

What about theatre?? More into that.

[green-amber.livejournal.com]

Oh PS - Steven spotted Michael NYman on at RSO last night...

Re: I've never been to the opera!

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I suspect you'd enjoy Rigoletto a lot more (it has tunes, and this is a splendid production) - though The Handmaid's Tale has SFnal credibility.

Let me know which dates would suit you best and I'll see what I can do ...

'Fixation'?

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Nah, it's art, innit? (Thomas Randle: velvet frock coat: leather trousers ... and tunes ... and English lyrics ...)
Problem last year was that the people who wanted to go couldn't all make the same date. And it would have been a shame to make someone go on their own ...

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Happy to consider theatre, but the info I have here is almost entirely music.

OK definitely Rigoletto then

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

And I'm quite flexible on dates; much prefer weeknight to weekend (though Friday is ok), and prefer not Monday (because I don't work that day so prefer not to make special trips into London). But there is currently nothing in my diary for any of those dates as far as I know. What a sad girl. So preferably one of 7, 14, 20, 26 Feb, or 4, 6, 11, 14 March.

In terms of seats, I'm happy to go with whatever you think is best, whether very pricey or very cheap or somewhere in between. (I doubt I would be so sanguine if it were the Royal Opera House, where I think tickets can cost more than digital cameras!). And just for me; Steven believes he dislikes opera, and I haven't been able to get hold of my sister-in-law.

Thanks!