Sun Readers go to the Opera

[Philidor]

Readers of Britain's biggest selling tabloid newspaper went to the opera last night for the opening of Mozart's Don Giovanni or, as a Sun sub-editor put it: 'Love Rat goes to Hell'.

Readers of The Sun newspaper turned out in force for the opening night of the Royal Opera House's new season.

Tickets for Mozart's masterpiece Don Giovanni were only made available to readers of the paper.

BBC

Accompanied by Page Three Girls (normally topless models) 2,200 Sun readers descended on the Royal Opera House, paying £1 (plus a free glass of champagne) for tickets usually costing £200.

OPERA, eh? A load of fat lasses screeching at the tops of their voices while blokes in tight trousers waltz around the stage for hours.

Watched by toffee-nosed hoity-toity types who wouldn’t be seen dead sitting down to an episode of EastEnders, The Sopranos or Footballers’ Wives.

The snooty sort who would turn their noses up at a bit of sex, boozing, gambling, bribery and murder.

But hang on a minute. If you want all those things in your entertainment, the opera is exactly the place to go.

Because the truth is, most operas are dirtier than Amy Winehouse’s beehive, riper than a full-on effing rant by Gordon Ramsay and more violent than a Tarantino bloodfest.

The Sun

Welcoming the audience, Royal Opera House director, Tony Hall, said: "I can think of no better way to start our new season than with the people here tonight."

It was a very special occasion for Warwickshire gran, Monica Brownhill, 72, who had dreamed of attending the opera all her life.

She beamed: "I cant believe I'm actually here.

"I'm retired and if it wasnt for The Sun there is no way I could afford this.

"It really is a dream come true."

The Sun

[Herzeleide]

The snooty sort who would turn their noses up at a bit of sex, boozing, gambling, bribery and murder.

But hang on a minute. If you want all those things in your entertainment, the opera is exactly the place to go.

Some of the music's good as well.

This reminds me (though only very tenuously linked) about when Richard Littlejohn wrote a typically pig ignorant and twattish article about Birtwistle's Panic being played on the last night of the Proms, and Robin Holloway's typically witty and caustic riposte.

Sun readers should not have had the priviledge of going to the opera on the cheap.

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Herzeleide

This reminds me (though only very tenuously linked) about when Richard Littlejohn wrote a typically pig ignorant and twattish article about Birtwistle's Panic being played on the last night of the Proms, and Robin Holloway's typically witty and caustic riposte.

Post them up. Journalist Mark Lawson went last night and reports here (click 'Listen to latest edition' -- 00:45 - 8:50).

[Florestan]

I loathe the Sun for countless reasons, but this was a great idea. Good on them. It should be a regular monthly occurrence.

[Philidor]

Today's Sun:

One of the youngest there was ten-year-old Matilde Rouhi, from London, who was with mum Laurence, 43.

Matilde said: “I’ve been to the cinema before but never the opera. It was very exciting. I’m glad mum brought me along.”

Laurence said: “This is my first time at the Royal Opera House and I’m very impressed. When I saw the offer for reduced-price tickets in The Sun I thought it was a great idea.

“I’m delighted we could come to such a spectacular event.”

Monica Brownhill, 72, a gran from Nuneaton, Warks, fulfilled her lifelong dream.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to experience the opera and, after 72 years, here I am. The performances and the stage were stunning — and the Sun readers really helped to liven up the atmosphere.”

And just before the final curtain, Sun readers were given an extra special treat close to their hearts — Don Giovanni with a topless babe in his arms.

The Sun

From the Radio 3 messageboard:

Oh for goodness sake. Let's get real. Sun readers = Big Brother,Trisha, Jeremy Kyle, Eastenders, McDonalds and Westlife.

The truth is that different people like different things; fine, and each to their own. I'm sure the ROH feel they are fulfilling some sort of nulabour "inclusivity" brief by this pathetic stunt, but I believe- and hope- that it will fall flat on its face.

Perhaps if the ROH offered free Chicken McNuggets it might help bring in the great unwashed Sun readership. Personally, I like the fact that there are still some places free of White Van Man and his ilk.

The Snob

[Herzeleide]

Originally Posted by Florestan

I loathe the Sun for countless reasons, but this was a great idea. Good on them. It should be a regular monthly occurrence.

No it shouldn't, then I'll be forced to buy the Sun.

[Florestan]

Coverage and comment from the Grauniad's Charlotte Higgins

When Tony Hall, the ROH's executive director, came on stage to welcome the audience, he was also welcoming those watching the show live in 113 cinemas across the UK and abroad - a first for the ROH. The point was, he told me, to "start the season with almost an anti-gala, celebrating the new season with people who haven't visited before". He added: "This is not a stunt. We want it to be something long-lasting."

Certainly many who saw Don Giovanni on Monday night plan to be back. Fifty-year-old Barbara Warren from Essex, a Sun reader who had never been to the opera before, declared herself "totally sucked in. When they started singing, it made all the hair on the back of my neck rise up." Emeka Madumere, 25, from London, came because his girlfriend wanted to, and because the price was right. "If I have to pay £300 for a ticket, I'm never going to do that for a risk," he explained. "I just wanted to see what it was like - and now I'm hooked." Among the first-timers there were also plenty of regular opera-goers, many of them people who had taken advantage of discounted tickets to introduce their passion to friends. Andrew Spencer, 45, from London, said: "I've been several times, but my friends have all come for the first time tonight. They loved it. It was a slightly different atmosphere: people seemed a little unsure where to clap after certain arias, but when they did show their appreciation, they loved it." John Yugin, 60, from London, agreed. "There was a different atmosphere: it was a bit noisier, there was a bit more whistling and cheering, a bit more interruption from the audience, which is absolutely fine. More please."

Interesting about the cinema link-ups.