Riffraff at The Opera

(L-R: Jolyn, me and Sarah; me in my boxed seat!; Hänsel und Gretel by Humperdink, inside the opera house)

I was fortunate enough to be a new friend’s emergency plus one the other night and got a fully-paid-for taste of the opera at Glyndebourne, which is an hour or so outside of central London by train, in the Sussex countryside. The opera house is next to the country home of its founder and members of the opera troupe usually stay there while performing.

My only experience of the opera so far had been from Pretty Woman and Little Britain, so going to the world renowned Glyndebourne was rather exciting. I was also particularly thrilled that we were watching Hänsel und Gretel because I have had a tiny (OK, medium-sized) crush on Germany ever since my trip to Munich and Berlin (will explain in another post).

It was a black-tie affair and a little intimidating as I stood sipping my Pimm’s in my little-worn black dress surrounded by posh-looking women in fancy outfits. The guys didn’t look like they were renting their tuxes for the night either. The age demographics of the crowd generally leaned towards a generation or two older than my friends and I, and it was a bit of a problem when we were looking for some techno-savvy to get a group shot of us with a phone camera.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere was really lively as people enjoyed elaborate picnics with proper silverware and all, before the performance began. My group had to look on a little hungrily but there was to be an extended interval during the show and we had dinner reservations at the restaurant next to the opera house (called Middle & Over Wallop! Haha!).

The first half of Hänsel und Gretel was a little slow but the singing was incredible and the invention of supertitles is right up there with sliced bread. Dinner was satisfying to our hungry bellies and dessert was even better. The second half of the performance went by quickly and we all agreed that while there was some amazing singing, we probably would’ve chosen another opera if we had the chance. I think the full effect of operatic singing might be better felt in one of those dramatic love stories, not really a lighthearted fairytale. Still, the whole event was an amazing experience and I wouldn’t mind doing it again, except maybe with a prettier dress.