My First Trip to Covent Garden!!
11/27/2009 09:30:00 AM Edit This 0 Comments »
posted by Debi
I was in London this past week for work and finally got my chance to make one of my dreams come true!! To see an opera at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden!! The site was originally a theatre in 1732 and Handel was one of the first musical directors of the company. In fact, Handel premiered most of his operas and oratoris in Covent Garden including his first opera 'Il Pastor Fido' and 'Ariodante' (1735). Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the theatre in 1808.
It was rebuilt and reopened in 1809 with a performance of Macbeth. Seems they have had bad luck with fires because on 5 March 1856, the theatre was again destroyed by fire. The third (and current theatre) opened on 15 May 1858 with a performance of Meyerbeer's 'Les Huguenots'.
This is what the opera house looks like today:
So you can see my huge excitement at having the opportunity to visit this mecca of opera. I saw Tchaikovsky's 'Cherevichki' or 'The Tsarina's Slippers. Tchaikovsky himself said this was his favorite opera he produced, though it's rarely played outside Russia. The opera had an almost entirely Russian cast. Based on a Christmas tale by Gogol that mixes realistic village comedy with fairytale fantasy. You can read the plot of the opera here.
I was in London this past week for work and finally got my chance to make one of my dreams come true!! To see an opera at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden!! The site was originally a theatre in 1732 and Handel was one of the first musical directors of the company. In fact, Handel premiered most of his operas and oratoris in Covent Garden including his first opera 'Il Pastor Fido' and 'Ariodante' (1735). Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the theatre in 1808.
It was rebuilt and reopened in 1809 with a performance of Macbeth. Seems they have had bad luck with fires because on 5 March 1856, the theatre was again destroyed by fire. The third (and current theatre) opened on 15 May 1858 with a performance of Meyerbeer's 'Les Huguenots'.
This is what the opera house looks like today:
And inside:
So you can see my huge excitement at having the opportunity to visit this mecca of opera. I saw Tchaikovsky's 'Cherevichki' or 'The Tsarina's Slippers. Tchaikovsky himself said this was his favorite opera he produced, though it's rarely played outside Russia. The opera had an almost entirely Russian cast. Based on a Christmas tale by Gogol that mixes realistic village comedy with fairytale fantasy. You can read the plot of the opera here.
It was FANTASTIC! I loved every minute of it--from the fairy tale/storybook staging, to the beautiful singing to the funny plot to the happily-ever after ending!!
Here's a few photos I found from the production:
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