Opera in the Pub

Opera in the Pub

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Posted 2015-03-19 by rujihwfollow

Wed 25 Mar 2015

What comes to mind when you think of the pub? How about something unconventional, like the opera?



As part of The Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum Now event, I had the pleasure of enjoying a stellar performance from the Opera Bites team last weekend. Opera Bites specialises in miniature operas and tailored entertainment at a variety of venues, from pubs and restaurants to historic houses, town halls and even the outback !

Arriving at the buzzing Dove & Olive just after 6pm, my guest and I were greeted by the friendly host who escorted us to our seats. A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages was offered, and our meal order taken. Through observation, the crowd appears to be comprised of an older demographic, which made me wonder if millennials are simply not interested in opera. Admittedly, I am not an opera-goer myself. However, I have developed a renewed appreciation for opera after immersing myself in one of the best performances I have ever seen.



The opera began at 7pm with its first act - The Marriage of Figaro - which is one of Mozart's most popular masterpieces. In this classic comedy, things weren't going so well for Figaro (Rik Dawson) on his wedding day. The Count (David Hidden) was making advances on Figaro's bride, Susanna (Elli Bortolotti). Complications ensued when the Countess (Rae Levien) got involved and everyone started sticking their oar in Figaro's business, including Cherubino (Keara Donohoe) and Basilio (Peter-John Layton). As you can imagine, things got out of hand and Figaro had to find a way to resolve this. The amazing on-stage chemistry is testament to how close-knit the team is, and the witty and engaging 45-min performance kept the audience on their toes.







Then came intermission where dinner was served. The generous portion and scrumptious meal kept our bellies full and happy while the Opera Bites crew continued to delight us in more opera goodness.

The second act, where 14 classic opera masterpieces were performed, was the highlight of the night for me. I was thoroughly blown away by each individual's impeccable vocal talent. Here is a footage I captured of Rae and Keare singing Dôme épais, and Peter singing Nessun Dorma.

The opera would not be complete without the pianist (Zsuzsa Giczy), whose performance is none less impressive than her counterparts. It is apparent to me that everyone is extremely passionate and enthusiastic about what they do, and will always be putting their best performance forward regardless of the size of the audience. To learn more about each artist, please visit their profiles .



For anyone interested in an up close opera performance, feel free to check out the next performance on Wednesday 25th March at The Roxbury Hotel, Glebe. Tickets are $35 excluding dinner and drinks. Trust me, you will not regret this!

#Drama
#eastern_suburbs
#food_wine
#glebe
#music
#near_sydney
#new_south_wales
#opera
#pubs
#surry_hills
#city
#theatre
#theatres
#things_to_see
#march
!date 25/03/2015 -- 25/03/2015
%wnsydney
165313 - 2023-06-15 01:19:39

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