Opera North; Rosenkavalier

[Conchis]

Others know better than me, but Strauss reputedly loathed the tenor voice and tended to write his most thankless roles for voices in that range. I am not a tenor and have never/will never sing roles like Der Kaiser or Bacchus but those in the know assure me they are 'hell' to sing (though they sound impressive).

As to Rosenkavalier - the Iris Murdoch quote in the programme (from The Black Prince) does a very good job of summarising many peoples' reaction to this opera. I know a lot of people who loathe it and I can - I suppose - understand what they object to.

Der Rosenkavalier is not as sickly sweet as it may at first appear: there's quite a nasty story going on in the background, revolving around snobbery and social climbing. The same applies to Cosi Fan Tutte (a very nasty story indeed).

[Flay]

(a very nasty story indeed).

So are quite a lot. I've always thought Rigoletto was quite nasty really. Perhaps we should compile a list of the most nasty

[Conchis]

So are quite a lot. I've always thought Rigoletto was quite nasty really. Perhaps we should compile a list of the most nasty

Yep: Rigoletto leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth.

[Flay]

Yep: Rigoletto leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth.

Thinking about it, it may be easier to make a list of nicely-themed operas!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So are quite a lot. I've always thought Rigoletto was quite nasty really. Perhaps we should compile a list of the most nasty

There's plenty of scope here - Il Trovatore and Tosca are among the better known ones.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thinking about it, it may be easier to make a list of nicely-themed operas!

Oh, there are plenty of nice themes in them ...

[Flay]

Oh, there are plenty of nice themes in them ...

Indeed, the Devil has all the best tunes

[Flay]

What a wonderful, enchanting performance tonight

Preceeded by an excellent pre-opera talk from one of the chrorus who spoke fluently and knowledgeably about Stauss and the opera itself