Opera can be a vibrant, exciting art form accessible to anyone with a love of theatre and music, and often no more expensive than an outing to a West End show. Even Covent Garden and Glyndebourne - which epitomise opera's upper class image - attract casually-dressed aficionados whose budgets do not stretch to the front stalls, but without whose knowledge, enthusiasm and support those venues would be much poorer.
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Glyndebourne Opera House. |
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Where to go
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The Royal Opera.
The country's premier company, based at Covent Garden, providing full-scale stagings of classic and modern operas, sometimes with top international names. The operas are performed in the original language. Prices vary, but Haydn's Orfeo ed Euridice, featuring the well-known Cecilia Bartoli cost from £155 (orchestra stalls), to just £28 in the rear amphitheatre (the 'gods'), and as little as £5 standing with a restricted view; 67 lower priced seats are usually available from 10am on the day of performance. (www.royaloperahouse.org)
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The Royal Opera House. |
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English National Opera.
The Royal Opera's main rival, performing all operas in English translations (anathema to purists). Tickets from about £70 to about £6 in the gods, with day seats for as little as £3 and discounts for booking three or more operas. (www.eno.org)
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Opera North.
Based in Leeds' Grand Theatre, but tours extensively. Tickets at Leeds from about £26 to £5. (www.operanorth.co.uk)
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Welsh National Opera.
Main venues in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno, London performances at Sadler's Wells, other venues in England, and touring productions to smaller venues in England and Wales. Typical Cardiff prices £47 to £8. (www.wno.org.uk)
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Scottish Opera.
Based at Glasgow's Theatre Royal and Edinburgh's Festival Theatre, performing in the original languages. Major performances in Aberdeen and Inverness, and smaller productions touring to other venues throughout Britain. Tickets from about £55 to about £6 in the gods, with day seats around £4. (www.scottishopera.org.uk)
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Mid Wales Opera.
A well-regarded touring company offering performances across England and Wales.
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English Pocket Opera.
Tours productions in English of operas in small-scale format (with five-piece band or piano). (www.pocketopera.co.uk)
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Carl Rosa Opera, HMS Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan. |
Carl Rosa Opera.
Britain's oldest opera company, founded 1873. Mainly light opera.
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