A Cultural Moment
 

Being a bit slow on the uptake, as I can be, I have only just discovered the delights of Youtube. One of the things I have discovered is this wonderful little snippet....

YouTube - Monteverdi - L'Orfeo - Savall

Which I include for your delectation and delight and also to see if the link works. What you should be able to see is the overture (toccata and ritornella) of Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo". This is one of the earliest examples of of that absolute pinnacle of western artistic acheivement; the opera. In which all branches of the arts are combined to produce an harmonious whole that is considerably more than the mere sum of its parts.

I don't know what other members will think of it it but, I think it is quite mad! The guy with the beard and the drum has to be a star in his own right!

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

I once saw Dame Joan Sutherland perform at Covent Garden, or was it the Royal Vauxhall Tavern? She was outrageous.:D

I used to go to the opera quite a lot, mainly to the London Coliseum because I had a friend who worked there and got me free tickets. It's a shame it's seen as elitist, because anyone who likes theatre would certainly enjoy the spectacle.

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

had a listen, not really my bag, but its nice to see, there aint just plebs use utube, whoever put that on certainly dont car-surf, or bite chickens heads off,is my best guess.;)

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

I am with G it shouldnt be seen as elitist to go to Opera or for that matter a high profile West End Show. Nor should a gig by a rock or pop band should be classed as a lower class passtime. I should imagine that tickets to the Opera West End Show or a big concert for a famous band would like for like be close price wise. Not as though we would want to be up in the whatever its called above the main crowd. All good music, plays or shows should be appreciated by all not just a select few.

Mind you reading the responses and comments there are a few die hard purists around that wont embrase change. Its that attitude that helps keep it in its "elitist" area.

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

i dont think the opera is seen as that much elitest more dowager terrortiry. i must admit ive been to a couple of operas very opulent setting and i really enjoyed it.

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

I read in the paper a few years ago that a bloke living in London got the Tube to a venue, tickets for the opera, a drink at the interval and a programme, for less that it would cost to watch Arsenal on a Saturday afternoon.

Cultural capital is a very powerful entity, but there are signs of it changing. Perhaps now the old school tie lot show their Chelsea season tickets to one another, rather than their ticket for Don Giovani? ;)

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

It gave me goose bumps.

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

It's still cheaper to go to the opera than to a Barbra Streisand concert, with tickets from the box office selling at five hundred pounds each, for her current tour

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

Wasn't her concert in Rome cancelled? For a 'non-ticket price related' reason of course ;)

Re: A Cultural Moment
 

Yeah the banks wouldnt give loans for people to see her concert.