h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Very enjoyable write-up, Gnomon

I'm like you - I can take it or leave it when it comes to opera. To get the most out of it, I think you have to suspend all interest in the plot and just enjoy the spectacle.

I'm not sure I could sit through a whole opera. There are a select few I have the music on CD, but I don't watch them on TV, either. They're usually in Italian, and even if they are in a language you can understand, you'll still not understand most of what they're singing.

However, the way you're going about it seems to be fun.

Yes! I kind of like the idea of an opera festival specialising in obscure works. I would like to hear some, even if they are really weird. This appeals to me greatly. Perhaps I should attend this festival of which you write so splendidly. Thankyou for introducing me to this world.



Coincidentally, my father took me to my first ever opera last week. He thought we should see an opera in the next year or two, before he is 90 and I am 60. . I loved the surtitles! We saw Cenerentola by Rossini. Quite a laugh, in fact. I didn't know that opera could be humorous.

I wish I had seen the ENO performing Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries at Glastonbury Festival in '04. Went down a storm with the crowd, apparently . I would love to meet someone who was there.

cc

La Cenerentola seems to be the opera on which most of Gilbert and Sullivan's works were based.

Ah yes of course! I can now see the link between La Cenerentola and Gilbert and Sullivan.

I learn! I learn.

The Mikado. That's my fave Gilbert and Sullivan opera. I've never seen it performed, I just used to listen to the record.

Who were Gilbert and Sullivan? Must find out.

cc

Hello Cactuscafe.

Here on h2g2 is a good place to start finding out!

Click on these links

A620975 Sir Arthur Sullivan - Composer
A613199 William Schwenk Gilbert - Dramatist
A628139 'The Pirates of Penzance' - the Comic Opera
A435737 The Comic Operas of Gilbert and Sullivan
A620984 The D'Oyly Carte Company

Hah! Splendid! Thankyou Trillian-s Child for these links to the Edited Guide.

I was just saying, on another thread, just how much I am appreciating the Edited Guide. h2g2 is, for sure, a wonderful place of learning!

cc