Opera: accessibility vs snobbery

I hate it when someone dismisses a whole cultural genre or style out of hand, but I have to be honest here. I just do not like opera. I’ve tried my best, listening to examples of Mozart, Verdi and Wagner, but the result is always the same… “Hey, that’s really great music. Mmmm, yeah… I like that. Oh wait… er, do you think maybe… oh, please. Nooooooo! PLEASE DON’T SING!”

However, I’m prepared to believe that part of the problem (only part, mind) is that I’ve never heard/seen an opera performed live. This can often be the key to better understanding of any musical style. Unfortunately, opera doesn’t traditionally lend itself to the “try before you buy” approach (which is where the Proms really excel). Until recent moves by both Covent Garden and the English National Opera to add cheaper ranges of tickets, prices were generally very high. Even now, you’ll need to pay at least £40 unless you want to be stuck right at the back or way over on one side.

So… it’s nice to hear that the Savoy Opera is about to start its first season at the Savoy Theatre on the Strand. You’re looking at £35-50 for the highest ticket price, with a sensible range of options below that. They probably won’t have the same clout as the two rivals in attracting the really big names, but I don’t have a problem with that. A £20 ticket for the live opera equivalent of Naxos CDs? Sounds like the sort of thing that might tempt me along.

On the Today programme this morning, impresario Raymond Gubbay came across well, making a good case for the existence of the Savoy as an alternative to the Big Two. As he pointed out, both the Royal Opera and the ENO have received masses of public and Lottery funding and can therefore operate at a totally different economic level. The accusation of bland populism will never be far away, and I hope the Savoy can avoid falling into endless re-runs of the Magic Flute. Mind you, after hearing what Michael White (formerly of The Independent) had to say about the Savoy, I hope it succeeds in any way possible…

“…Raymond is appealing to first-time opera-goers who, in a way, are innocent opera-goers. They’re not in the best position to judge whether they’re being given something that’s good or bad.”

Social responsibility or just snobbery? I suspect the latter. Thank you, Mr White, but when I want help in my cultural life from some newspaper critic, I’ll be in touch. Until then, I’m perfectly capable of making my own judgements about art, thanks.

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