I'm still trying to figure out what my first ROH opera should be (thanks for the suggestions received so far.) However I received news of this special offer and don't know that it's right for me, but thought I'd pass it on:


Get Orchestra Stalls tickets for Beethoven's only opera Fidelio for £75

Ludwig Van Beethoven's only opera Fidelio opens shortly in a new production at the Royal Opera House conducted by Music Director Antonio Pappano.

Guardian Unlimited readers can take advantage of a special offer on Thursday 14 June or Monday 18 June at 7.30pm to buy Orchestra Stalls tickets for £75 (usual price £185).


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I think you can get more details via the guardian website.

You can always tell when a production isn't selling - constant advertising and then 'special offers'.
The photo used in the advertising is enough to give some idea of what a ghastly evening it is likely to be - all pc and 'relevant'. Fidelio is an opera that is vulnerable to this kind of approach. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Actually it's a pretty good production (apart from a couple of miscalculations). It's the same one that was done at the Met and Chicago with Mattila. It's worth seeing for her riveting and fearless interpretation. I don't know why it's not selling

Sebastian

The cheap seats seem to be going, it's just the people with deep pockets staying away. Saying that, I wouldn't fork out £75 on my first opera. Unless you do have deep pockets, the amphitheatre is the only place to be and I found that being up high doesn't bother me too much with an opera, seeing that most performers aren't naturally talented actors and the sound carries very well.

You could try for Rigoletto. It's on in July and there are still some affordable seats available.

No, I wouldn't advise "Fidelio" for a first foray into opera either. Rigoletto is a pretty good bet - Good music, plenty of "tunes" and a very strong story. I can't remember what the cast is but it's an ok production.
As for seating I personally prefer the Ampitheatre to any other area anyway (especially the front for sound)

Sebastian

Fidelio reviews seem to confirm my worst fears.

Has anyone else noticed that the ROH website seems to be playing up something rotten? Have been trying to look for over a day at the availability of Rigoletto tickets, but keep getting error messages.

(I am also kicking myself for not getting tickets for the Ballet Mixed Programme this weekend, which I bet is going to be fantastic.)

If it your first time to hear an opera there, I don't think Fidelio is such a good choice. Choose perhaps an opera by Verdi.

Okay, you have definitely talked me out of the Fidelio. After reading all the raves about Death in Venice at the ENO, I wished I 'd booked for that.

I'm still haven't diabolical problems with the ROH website - I recently joined the Friends of Covent Garden but can't even log in! Is it just me?

IF anyone else is having problems, I've just had a reply from the ROH. Apparently since they got their new online website, it is now incompatible with certain browsers, including AOL. Grrrrr....

Fidelio not brilliant. The music and the thinking behind the story are brilliant . But this production has too much faffing about on stage - I wanted to grab that silly rucksack and chuck it away - and the ending is very 'musical' like and really they have missed a trick . This could be the most 'relevant' opera of the moment and whilst 'relevance' isn't aways required, it is here very conspicuous by its absense. I don't think a European production would have missed that.

There is nothing new in the ROH having problems with their website. I have never had any luck with it, often finding myself going around in circles. I have always had to resort to phoning the box office in the end. Thank goodness the staff have always been polite and helpful. But why bother to have a website if it doesn't work?

How was it 'musical' ?

I agree, Tintin, the staff is helpful on the telephone.

I've talked to some of the Friends' staff about the problems with the website and they said that the new security measures meant that AOL and some other internet services could not access the site. I've tried to get on it from another computer which used Internet Explorer but couldn't order tickets online with that (though frustratingly it allowed me to get all the way to selecting tickets before it let me know that.) The explanation I got was that the security settings on that version of Explorer didn't suit the ROH website either....Odd.

But at least the staff is helpful when you speak with them and I suppose the website must suit someone since they've bothered to have it.

Decided to give Fidelio a miss and so far have only booked ballets: La Bayadere, Romeo and Juliet and (in the Linbury) Pinnochio.

Like a musical with the cast all coming to the front and jigging about and making like Guys and Dolls ...Reich.