Opera Lovers unite against the ROH and the BBC in unholy alliance

[John Skelton]

Will Covent Garden refund people who don't want to go to a performance of La bohème in which the second act is performed twice, the second time with someone who can't conduct pretending to conduct it, or who would miss the third act in which all the sad stuff happens because they wouldn't be able to get transport home? If this has been sprung on people then that would seem only right and fair and proper .

[Mary Chambers]

If I had tickets for this performance I'd be absolutely furious. It's ridiculous.

[french frank]

Will Covent Garden refund people who don't want to go to a performance of La bohème in which the second act is performed twice, the second time with someone who can't conduct pretending to conduct it, or who would miss the third act in which all the sad stuff happens because they wouldn't be able to get transport home? If this has been sprung on people then that would seem only right and fair and proper .

Oh, for goodness sake, John Skelton, put like that you just make it sound ridiculous!

[John Skelton]

Oh, for goodness sake, John Skelton, put like that you just make it sound ridiculous!

Heaven forbid!

[french frank]

I'm slightly surprised there isn't a news story in the press about it yet. I mean, not even the BBC seems to be mentioning it ... (not as a news story, I mean).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm slightly surprised there isn't a news story in the press about it yet. I mean, not even the BBC seems to be mentioning it ... (not as a news story, I mean).

There have been trailers for tonight's first "episode"; one of the contestents cheerfully commenting "If you say to me 'A flat', I'd say 'A flat what?'" - yep: we're setting a new standard in hilarity here!

I quite liked the "Generation Game" aspect of the first series of Maestro four years ago, but it was a "joke" that quickly wore thin. It would be a bit feeble even if there were regular programmes taking Music seriously; that this is the nearest we get to "Classical Music" TV broadcasting outside of the Proms season on BBC2 is what makes it a lamentable specimen. Sports would never be treated so dismally: the only sports broadcasting on BBC 1 or 2 being an ad-hoc collection of almost well-known Soap actors "learning" how to play darts.

[LHC]

Will Covent Garden refund people who don't want to go to a performance of La bohème in which the second act is performed twice, the second time with someone who can't conduct pretending to conduct it, or who would miss the third act in which all the sad stuff happens because they wouldn't be able to get transport home? If this has been sprung on people then that would seem only right and fair and proper .

Perhaps the Opera House should have combined this with the 'sleepover':

http://www.roh.org.uk/news/how-to-hold-your-own-opera-sleepover

Then anyone who would otherwise have to leave before 10:30 pm to catch a train could instead have spent the night in the Opera House

[Mary Chambers]

I'm beginning to think I'm Alice in Wonderland, or else it's April 1st.

[Anna]

I'm slightly surprised there isn't a news story in the press about it yet. I mean, not even the BBC seems to be mentioning it ... (not as a news story, I mean).

It's been quite heavily trailed on Radio 4 during the Today programme. I don't think that I have seen a television trailer although the first episode is tonight. I just think the ROH should have made it perfectly plain to those booking tickets that there would be an extended interval whilst an episode of a reality show was being filmed in case timings for catching trains would be disrupted. I do look forward to Prommers' report on the event and how many of the audience stayed and how many fled to the bar .........

[Mary Chambers]

Of course, in spite of my comments, I'm going to watch the programme. Morbid curiosity. I've only heard of two of the 'celebrities', (Marcus du Sautoy, whose father was connected with Faber and Aldeburgh, and Craig Revel Horwood), but I want to see what the general approach is, and how Mark Elder comes over.

[Flosshilde]

I would suggest that when the celebrity 'conductor' arrives the usual applause is withheld & he or she is greeted with silence. At the end of the act, the singers & orchestra are applauded & the conductor, when they appear on stage, is again greeted with silence.

[french frank]

I would suggest that when the celebrity 'conductor' arrives the usual applause is withheld & he or she is greeted with silence. At the end of the act, the singers & orchestra are applauded & the conductor, when they appear on stage, is again greeted with silence.

I would be too tender-hearted - it's not their fault they're in this position. Perhaps extremely muted applause for all? Plus a lot of absentees?

[Prommer]

I think it's unfair to be too hard on the participants. It's the ROH management who need a good shoe-ing.

[Barbirollians]

The fact they are engaging in this farrago is pretty poor what is a disgrace is how they have misled the audience and changed what was advertised. I shall be going to the bar . I think that is the right thing to do rather than boo or slow handclap which strikes me as mean spirited and unfair on the young Jette Parker singers .

[Flosshilde]

boo or slow handclap which strikes me as mean spirited and unfair on the young Jette Parker singers .

Which is why I suggested that the singers & orchestra should be applauded as usual.

. I shall be going to the bar .

I'm sure that the ROH will be very pleased with the extra profits generated by people spending twice as long in the bar as usual. Win-win for them