Glyndebourne sounds like a lovely experience. My own history with opera is perhaps best described as fraught; when I was a wee lad, my parents had season tickets to the San Francisco Opera, and they would drag me kicking and screaming to one performance a year - always, in my memory, of Carmen, though I don’t suppose that can actually be true. I hated it: getting dressed up, being forced to sit still in an uncomfortable chair for hours on end while watching a bunch of very large people in ridiculous costumes maneuver clumsily about the stage while shrieking at each other in a language I didn’t understand (this was long before supertitles)….
But, as someone with arty pretensions, I always felt my aversion to opera as a character defect, and so when I had the opportunity a few years ago to audit a course at Williams College on the history of opera I leapt at the chance. And when I moved back to San Francisco in 2021 my buddy Hans Baldauf and I decided to start attending the opera together. We tend toward the Italian classics and Mozart - no Wagner, please - and while I can’t say I’ve become a devotee yet, I’m still working on it.
I just knew you'd have opinions on opera! I remember now that you and Hans attended an opera when we were visiting; perhaps one of you might have dozed off? Supertitles have really improved the experience for me, anyway. Although that is how one learns that very little is actually said; just the same thing over and over and with emphasis. 🤣
Thanks so much for sharing your opera experiences, both 'awful' and 'working on it' versions.
Wonderful piece Sabrina! As many others commented, it was so atmospheric, I felt I was there with you in such an enticing way! Sign me up for opera at Glyndebourne and also in New Mexico! I have virtually no experience with opera but absolutely love symphonies and outdoor venues for music in general so I think that I would be in heaven! So pleased you and Pete have plans to go again next year with “new and improved” additions!
Ohh, Sabrina, you're one of us now for sure, talking about the weather hehehe! I really enjoyed reading this, I have zero experience of opera or going to the opera, but I really felt transported there with you. Thank you for taking me on a journey from my chair!
Thanks for acknowledging the weather comment! Jeeze, so British. 🤷♀️ But then, so was the Glyndebourne experience so, there you go. I'm glad you enjoyed the journey! What kinds of similar or more appropriately 'Spanish' events have you participated in that made you feel very Spanish?
Hahha, you're welcome! That's such an interesting question... it really got me thinking! For me it's probably the less formal (if that's the right word) events and more things like when I go for lunch with my boyfriend's family, or like this birthday party on a roof terrace I went to on Monday. I was looking at everyone, and at the beautiful skyline, and I got this feeling I haven't had for ages, like: Oh wow, I really live here (and feel at home here). I do also really the love the ceremony of the big religious events like Semana Santa and the summer festivals which are in honour of a patron saint. Even though I'm not religious myself I love being immersed in it. Wow, sorry for the long essay! And thank you for making me think!
These are wonderful examples! It is often those 'smaller' less-formal events where I have those wow moments too. And I like your parenthetical 'and feel at home here': that is the special stomach-butterflies feeling for me. Thanks for taking the time to think about those and share.
I have never "bonded" with opera, and may never do so. But I enjoyed your description of the Englishness of the event, with its estate garden venue. In particular, I find the strong emphasis on a picnic, and the wearing of finery, to be rather quaint. NIce
I remember that you always had a penchant for dressing rather well yourself at times, Tim! I think you would chuckle and hopefully enjoy the setting and the relaxed ceremony of it all. And I understand the lack of interest in Opera. It helps to be introduced to it rather dramatically, I think! I appreciate your thoughts.
Love this! Be on the lookout for a baritone named Daniel Schofield—he sang Marcelo in La Boheme last summer and is scheduled to go back at some time (I think). He was my (very very stubborn) student at Georgia southern University. I think you have to be bull-headed to make it in the opera world!
Oh I will! I've just looked at the website, and they've already taking the summer season off. I've looked at the autumn and next season headliners and don't see him, but now I will have fun hunting to see if he is around! Thanks for the tip! (and for reading!)
OH!!!!!!!! I can vouch for Glyndebourne being a fabulous experience... I'm fortunate to have been on a number of occasions, helped by the fact that it's extremely close to where I live! 🤣
When I was an au pair in Germany, the father of the family was the artistic director of the city's opera house. Actually they both worked there, and the children were in the children's chorus, so I got to see a lot of opera! Soooooo grateful.
My goodness lucky you!!!! On all counts! I had been thinking how fun to live near enough to be able to attend more events there. And you do! Plus, you actually enjoy going to opera, which is key. 😉 😆
Next time we are thinking of going I will likely bug you to see if you want to go too! Or meet up beforehand. It looks like a lovely part of the world, and I look forward to more exploring. We did happen upon a lovely vineyard the next (perfectly sunny!) day, further along in West Sussex.
I’ve been lucky enough to go to a few Festival performances (the summer season) over the years, but tickets are soooo expensive, so these days we generally go in what until a couple of years ago was called the Touring season, which is October to December, where they have evening performances rather than also accommodating the Festival season’s full-on Glyndebourne long dinner interval. Sadly they’ve lost their Arts Council funding, so they now don’t take the autumn shows on tour to other theatres around the country any more. Anyway, they’re rather more affordable to attend than the summer shows.
Friends of ours went to every opera in this year’s season on standing tickets, which are very inexpensive. I couldn’t possibly stand for that long, but they had an incredible time - they spent on marquee accommodation in the interval so that they could sit and eat comfortably, and had an absolute ball! 🙌
We wondered how the people behind/above us could stand for so long, but each ‘act’ was only an hour or maybe an hour and a quarter at most between intervals, so maybe it is doable? Our seats were not cheap, but were only just a little bit more than the standing price, so we felt pretty smug (and comfortable!) Plus, as you may have seen, we felt like we were on a roller coaster, sitting all in a line!
I am very tempted by some of the autumn performances….!
I've never been to a fully-performed opera but I've been to concerts which comprise a superb orchestra and opera excerpts. There are opera songs I really like. I remember sitting on a grassy hill once, Symphonies under the Stars, cucumber sandwich in one hand and a hankie in the other as Lehar's Vilja was sung. Tears trickled down my face.
I'm a lover of classical concerts in the outdoors. As you say, the breadth of the music is suited to a greater landscape.
Your time at Glyndebourne is enviable, Sabrina and I'm with you on the people-watching!
It is always the music that gets my tear ducts flowing! No matter if it is commercials on TV, a gorgeous symphony, or a single voice or other instrument. Couple that with beautiful people and MWAH (chefs kiss!). Glad to hear you enjoy music outside too! x
Pete has it all wrong. You are one of the pretty and closing in on posh people. Looks like you had a blast. I loved the descriptions of the atmospheres in Santa Fe and Glyndebourne. I was sitting right there at your side sipping a little bubbly. I fully support your changes for next year, especially drinking out of real glasses. Plastic ones are barbaric. I love that the staff wheel your picnic to you. What class!
I'm not a big opera fan but I'll go anytime I have the chance. Last summer after our hiking trip in the Dolomites, Fabio and I visited Verona. We scored the last two tickets to see Aida on the last night of the international opera festival. Formal attire was required but we had only our hiking clothes (which fortunately we had a chance to wash before explaining to the ticket seller our predicament. He said most important was to have closed shoes. Our hiking boots certainly served that purpose.
This modern version of Aida took place in the amphitheater built in 30 A.D. The night was warm, lots of stars, and lots and lots of pretty people who had dressed a lot better than we did. But who cared about that when Aida was unfolding with the requisite drama and pageantry before our eyes.
You were lucky to see Carmen. I'd see that again in a flash. When the children were around 7, 8, and 12 we took them to Lincoln Center to see Carmen. They read the lyrics flashed on the wall about the stage and appeared to enjoy it. I have such fond memories of that night. Probably for that reason and the fact the story comes from Sevilla makes it my all time favorite (out of the three or four I've seen).
Thanks for this wonderful post. It made me very happy to see you having so much fun. Pete had a riot of a time it appears. I'm not mentioning the rain.
I love this story of seeing Aida in hiking clothes! And how interesting that closed shoes were the rule! No lovely sandals then...(even if you had them).
It was such a disappointment that it was raining, but in the end it just meant we focused on other things, and went for a very short walk in the drizzle anyway. Good excuse to return, I think! Thanks so much for sharing your opera memories-so glad to hear that you have had the opportunities.
Hallo again Sabrina, Whilst Opera has never been a big attraction for me, travelling has always been my major life experience. I flew to Arabi, Africa and Germany whilst in the army, but I do prefer the slow transports more. Gives one time to savour...
Earlier this year you asked me to update you on my planned cycling trip to search for land in France.
Solar tech issues and broken ribs have caused delays, but now that I have a new supertrike........
Have you picked up that my new stack This Creative Adventure goes live tonight ? It includes some info about both Trip and Search.... Perhaps you'd like to take a look ? Peace, Maurice
Glyndebourne sounds like a lovely experience. My own history with opera is perhaps best described as fraught; when I was a wee lad, my parents had season tickets to the San Francisco Opera, and they would drag me kicking and screaming to one performance a year - always, in my memory, of Carmen, though I don’t suppose that can actually be true. I hated it: getting dressed up, being forced to sit still in an uncomfortable chair for hours on end while watching a bunch of very large people in ridiculous costumes maneuver clumsily about the stage while shrieking at each other in a language I didn’t understand (this was long before supertitles)….
But, as someone with arty pretensions, I always felt my aversion to opera as a character defect, and so when I had the opportunity a few years ago to audit a course at Williams College on the history of opera I leapt at the chance. And when I moved back to San Francisco in 2021 my buddy Hans Baldauf and I decided to start attending the opera together. We tend toward the Italian classics and Mozart - no Wagner, please - and while I can’t say I’ve become a devotee yet, I’m still working on it.
I just knew you'd have opinions on opera! I remember now that you and Hans attended an opera when we were visiting; perhaps one of you might have dozed off? Supertitles have really improved the experience for me, anyway. Although that is how one learns that very little is actually said; just the same thing over and over and with emphasis. 🤣
Thanks so much for sharing your opera experiences, both 'awful' and 'working on it' versions.
Wonderful piece Sabrina! As many others commented, it was so atmospheric, I felt I was there with you in such an enticing way! Sign me up for opera at Glyndebourne and also in New Mexico! I have virtually no experience with opera but absolutely love symphonies and outdoor venues for music in general so I think that I would be in heaven! So pleased you and Pete have plans to go again next year with “new and improved” additions!
Thanks Martha! Yes, I agree that you and John would enjoy the outdoor experiences in both places (as will we in NY one of these days!)
Anytime we can be outside with good food, drink, music and friends is very good day indeed! Here's to many more in our future!
Ohh, Sabrina, you're one of us now for sure, talking about the weather hehehe! I really enjoyed reading this, I have zero experience of opera or going to the opera, but I really felt transported there with you. Thank you for taking me on a journey from my chair!
Thanks for acknowledging the weather comment! Jeeze, so British. 🤷♀️ But then, so was the Glyndebourne experience so, there you go. I'm glad you enjoyed the journey! What kinds of similar or more appropriately 'Spanish' events have you participated in that made you feel very Spanish?
Hahha, you're welcome! That's such an interesting question... it really got me thinking! For me it's probably the less formal (if that's the right word) events and more things like when I go for lunch with my boyfriend's family, or like this birthday party on a roof terrace I went to on Monday. I was looking at everyone, and at the beautiful skyline, and I got this feeling I haven't had for ages, like: Oh wow, I really live here (and feel at home here). I do also really the love the ceremony of the big religious events like Semana Santa and the summer festivals which are in honour of a patron saint. Even though I'm not religious myself I love being immersed in it. Wow, sorry for the long essay! And thank you for making me think!
These are wonderful examples! It is often those 'smaller' less-formal events where I have those wow moments too. And I like your parenthetical 'and feel at home here': that is the special stomach-butterflies feeling for me. Thanks for taking the time to think about those and share.
Oh yes, those butterflies - rare but wonderful!
I have never "bonded" with opera, and may never do so. But I enjoyed your description of the Englishness of the event, with its estate garden venue. In particular, I find the strong emphasis on a picnic, and the wearing of finery, to be rather quaint. NIce
I remember that you always had a penchant for dressing rather well yourself at times, Tim! I think you would chuckle and hopefully enjoy the setting and the relaxed ceremony of it all. And I understand the lack of interest in Opera. It helps to be introduced to it rather dramatically, I think! I appreciate your thoughts.
Love this! Be on the lookout for a baritone named Daniel Schofield—he sang Marcelo in La Boheme last summer and is scheduled to go back at some time (I think). He was my (very very stubborn) student at Georgia southern University. I think you have to be bull-headed to make it in the opera world!
Oh I will! I've just looked at the website, and they've already taking the summer season off. I've looked at the autumn and next season headliners and don't see him, but now I will have fun hunting to see if he is around! Thanks for the tip! (and for reading!)
OH!!!!!!!! I can vouch for Glyndebourne being a fabulous experience... I'm fortunate to have been on a number of occasions, helped by the fact that it's extremely close to where I live! 🤣
When I was an au pair in Germany, the father of the family was the artistic director of the city's opera house. Actually they both worked there, and the children were in the children's chorus, so I got to see a lot of opera! Soooooo grateful.
It sounds as if you had a wonderful time!
My goodness lucky you!!!! On all counts! I had been thinking how fun to live near enough to be able to attend more events there. And you do! Plus, you actually enjoy going to opera, which is key. 😉 😆
Next time we are thinking of going I will likely bug you to see if you want to go too! Or meet up beforehand. It looks like a lovely part of the world, and I look forward to more exploring. We did happen upon a lovely vineyard the next (perfectly sunny!) day, further along in West Sussex.
I’ve been lucky enough to go to a few Festival performances (the summer season) over the years, but tickets are soooo expensive, so these days we generally go in what until a couple of years ago was called the Touring season, which is October to December, where they have evening performances rather than also accommodating the Festival season’s full-on Glyndebourne long dinner interval. Sadly they’ve lost their Arts Council funding, so they now don’t take the autumn shows on tour to other theatres around the country any more. Anyway, they’re rather more affordable to attend than the summer shows.
Friends of ours went to every opera in this year’s season on standing tickets, which are very inexpensive. I couldn’t possibly stand for that long, but they had an incredible time - they spent on marquee accommodation in the interval so that they could sit and eat comfortably, and had an absolute ball! 🙌
We wondered how the people behind/above us could stand for so long, but each ‘act’ was only an hour or maybe an hour and a quarter at most between intervals, so maybe it is doable? Our seats were not cheap, but were only just a little bit more than the standing price, so we felt pretty smug (and comfortable!) Plus, as you may have seen, we felt like we were on a roller coaster, sitting all in a line!
I am very tempted by some of the autumn performances….!
I've never been to a fully-performed opera but I've been to concerts which comprise a superb orchestra and opera excerpts. There are opera songs I really like. I remember sitting on a grassy hill once, Symphonies under the Stars, cucumber sandwich in one hand and a hankie in the other as Lehar's Vilja was sung. Tears trickled down my face.
I'm a lover of classical concerts in the outdoors. As you say, the breadth of the music is suited to a greater landscape.
Your time at Glyndebourne is enviable, Sabrina and I'm with you on the people-watching!
It is always the music that gets my tear ducts flowing! No matter if it is commercials on TV, a gorgeous symphony, or a single voice or other instrument. Couple that with beautiful people and MWAH (chefs kiss!). Glad to hear you enjoy music outside too! x
Auto correct—grr- it’s Scofield!
I absolutely love this piece Sabrina. You write so exquisitely, I felt like I was there. You have an enviable life.💝
Oh thanks so much Beth! I absolutely have an amazing life; I don't ever lose sight of that! Thanks for sharing your thoughts ❤️
Pete has it all wrong. You are one of the pretty and closing in on posh people. Looks like you had a blast. I loved the descriptions of the atmospheres in Santa Fe and Glyndebourne. I was sitting right there at your side sipping a little bubbly. I fully support your changes for next year, especially drinking out of real glasses. Plastic ones are barbaric. I love that the staff wheel your picnic to you. What class!
I'm not a big opera fan but I'll go anytime I have the chance. Last summer after our hiking trip in the Dolomites, Fabio and I visited Verona. We scored the last two tickets to see Aida on the last night of the international opera festival. Formal attire was required but we had only our hiking clothes (which fortunately we had a chance to wash before explaining to the ticket seller our predicament. He said most important was to have closed shoes. Our hiking boots certainly served that purpose.
This modern version of Aida took place in the amphitheater built in 30 A.D. The night was warm, lots of stars, and lots and lots of pretty people who had dressed a lot better than we did. But who cared about that when Aida was unfolding with the requisite drama and pageantry before our eyes.
You were lucky to see Carmen. I'd see that again in a flash. When the children were around 7, 8, and 12 we took them to Lincoln Center to see Carmen. They read the lyrics flashed on the wall about the stage and appeared to enjoy it. I have such fond memories of that night. Probably for that reason and the fact the story comes from Sevilla makes it my all time favorite (out of the three or four I've seen).
Thanks for this wonderful post. It made me very happy to see you having so much fun. Pete had a riot of a time it appears. I'm not mentioning the rain.
I love this story of seeing Aida in hiking clothes! And how interesting that closed shoes were the rule! No lovely sandals then...(even if you had them).
It was such a disappointment that it was raining, but in the end it just meant we focused on other things, and went for a very short walk in the drizzle anyway. Good excuse to return, I think! Thanks so much for sharing your opera memories-so glad to hear that you have had the opportunities.
Hallo again Sabrina, Whilst Opera has never been a big attraction for me, travelling has always been my major life experience. I flew to Arabi, Africa and Germany whilst in the army, but I do prefer the slow transports more. Gives one time to savour...
Earlier this year you asked me to update you on my planned cycling trip to search for land in France.
Solar tech issues and broken ribs have caused delays, but now that I have a new supertrike........
Have you picked up that my new stack This Creative Adventure goes live tonight ? It includes some info about both Trip and Search.... Perhaps you'd like to take a look ? Peace, Maurice
Thanks Maurice for reading; I'll take a look at your new Stack.