Once or twice a year maybe. Last time I went was to see Saariaho’s Innocence in April at Covent Garden, a great work. If they staged more modern opera at Covent Garden and ENO I might go more often.

 

I hoped to see it but my schedule didn't work. And of course I was very sorry to hear of Saariaho's untimely death. I'm certainly up for modern operas as I've seen most of the standard repertoire numerous times.

 

I went often 20 years ago. Now, perhaps once a year. I have gone 3 times in 16 mo. Too much trouble. I am going to a recital by a promising soprano this fall and that may be it for the year. I don't like to stay up late anymore now that I am older.

 

I live in Bratislava (Slovakia) and that's where I see the performances.

In the 2022/2023 season, it was 6 live performances, which surprised me myself. Last time I went and chose the best, most expensive seat in the "big theater", it was 35 Eur, so the price is not the hurdle, only the patience of my partner to put the kids to bed without me.

I know people visit from abroad. If you are tired of the notorious war horse operas, I recommend the lesser known Slovak and Czech repertoire. Svätopluk by Eugen Suchoň, Devil and Kate by Dvořák, The Kiss by Smetana. You need to prepare yourself for somewhat unbalanced cast, someone awesome, someone barely audible, someone wobbly. It's exciting nevertheless, especially for Svätopluk, you can feel how involved people are.

The venues I visited lately are the large room in the New Slovak Nationak Theater, a smaller room for student performances, a nice historical building Reduta (Slovak philharmonia) for concert versions, a college room for free performances of the pupils and several outdoor places in the summer.

 

I live in Bratislava (Slovakia) and that's where I see the performances.

In the 2022/2023 season, it was 6 live performances, which surprised me myself. Last time I went and chose the best, most expensive seat in the "big theater", it was 35 Eur, so the price is not the hurdle...

I went to Bratislava some years ago for I Gioielli Della Madonna and thought it was a great production and well sung, certainly by the Korean tenor (IIRC). And of course there's the lovely old town square for drinks and nightlife after. I'd love to return, perhaps to the old theatre next time.

 

I could say I go to the theater not as often as I would like, my working schedule is dense and sometimes hard to change. But I shouldn't complain, because indeed I attend Mariinsky (all the venues) and sometimes Philharmonia about 30 times a year. Sometimes twice a week, sometimes once a month. This week I'm waiting for Die Meistersinger opening night, next week I will close the season with Parsifal and a concert performance of Tristan. It's well that prices here, unlike Bolshoi, are mostly democratic.
When I could travel in Europe I always went to the theaters. Opera was a significant part of my expenses. I usually scheduled more than one event during a vacation, if it was possible.

 

Two or three times a year.
The Virginia Opera is a good regional company.
They perform four productions a year at George Mason University. My wife and I live about five miles from the University.
The Music Department does some good student productions that we have attended.
Because of my disability I rarely go to the Kennedy Center anymore.

 

Before Covid we went to the Met at least 4 times a season and to the HD's around 9 times a season. As to other cities, maybe 2 times a season.
Now we are pretty much stuck with 6 HD's and 1 live Met opera.

 

2 to 5 operas a year almost entirely at the Met as I live In Connecticut about an hour and a half away. About another 3 to 5 concerts a year. Theatre is my profession- various responsibilities at a small regional theater - and it is my schedule there that will allow that lower number or the higher one. Very hopeful to catch a lot of the modern operas scheduled next year.

 

Why did I think you live in Australia ?!!

 

It's me who lives in Australia. I'm not aware of any others on TC, so I have the heavy burden of representing 27 million people here. Fortunately my appetite for work is enormous!

 

I absolutely love live opera, with all its risks and flaws. I go to all I can, which is probably 10-15 a year. I have Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, Melbourne Opera plus part-time companies Lyric Opera, IOpera, Australian Contemporary Opera Company and a couple of others in my city. The last time I counted I'd been to more than 700 operas (that is, performances - not 700 different operas). Earlier this month I went to Idomeneo, and on Saturday and Sunday I am going to the world premiere of The Gilt-Edged Kid by George Dreyfus and Krenek's The Dictator, which I am reviewing. Nothing beats being there.

 

That's amazing. Surely not all 700 in Australia! You must have been in Europe. Alas, in Australia, I've only been to Sydney Opera House (Meistersinger & Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.)

Like you, I love live opera and the whole travel thing, often meeting up with people. Next up for me is a Tokyo and Seoul trip later this year.

 

Once a lifetime. I saw Don Giovanni 20 years ago. No plans to see another opera.