Ruth Elleson

There’s one opera he mentioned, that I’ve never had a chance to hear live, by a composer I always love. I’d love to know that might happen in the future…

I added a £30 standing ticket for Entführung when public booking opened today 😎

I spoke to him in October 2019 when I was up for opening night of Tosca, and he let slip some plans for some interesting concert operas in the 2020/21 season which never ended up happening, and have never been rescheduled since 😕

I do wish Scottish Opera would revive their occasional Sunday-afternoon Operas in Concert series, which used to be scheduled for when there was a fully-staged show on the Saturday night, and made a weekend trip up worth my while. A Stuart Stratford innovation which fizzled out as a result of Covid.

It doesn’t help at all, because on Wednesday I will be at work, whereas yesterday there was a theoretical possibility I could have been there without it clashing with anything else. However, I have Tristan live from the Met in a fortnight, and 2 actual live performances coming up, so I’ll survive!

A reminder, for anyone who may have forgotten, that online public booking for the Glyndebourne Festival opens in a few minutes. (And that the cheapest tickets - restricted-view and standing - go freshly on sale to general public, without first dibs for paid-up members.)

How is the first thing coming along?

Yes of course, you were even on the right side of London! I do have Billy Budd as my other Glyndebourne date this summer. It falls on my birthday, and last time my birthday fell on a Saturday was during Covid when I had amazing plans set up and they were cancelled. We’re even eating in the Mildmay 😎

Ultimately even living within the catchment area they make sure people can get home to afterwards, a mid-price ticket plus travel and food can easily end up costing £250+ per head. The other summer festivals have equally attractive offerings and I’ve had to be really selective to stay in budget.

That’s certainly my top priority there this season. (I already have tickets.)

I’m glad I didn’t. I had a lovely nap for almost the entire duration of the train journey back to London, and am glad that’s it for the weekend.

I see Scottish Opera is doing Tristan und Isolde right now. I wonder if there was a time when I looked at my plans to see Peter Grimes last night and investigated whether I could get from Nottingham to Glasgow by 3pm? It feels like something I’d have considered, but I don’t recall.

Belgo closed down a long time ago, and what was the Lowlander was sold to new management last year and now has a new name. The Dovetail is still there, seemingly the last bastion of London’s Belgian beer scene.

It pains me that London has lost almost all of its specialist Belgian beer establishments.

I love strong Belgian beers, and think of them as to be drunk more like wine - which is consistent with the type of glass this has been served to you in, and the quantity that typically constitutes a serving.

You can email TFL to get them to pick them up. I imagine a What3Words reference is the best way of telling them exactly where it is. abandonedtflcycle@tfl.gov.uk

Ah, what a shame 🎻

My heart bleeds…

Nottingham Travelodge may be pretty old-school - big old concrete high-rise block, was freezing when I arrived, and feels like being in a council flat - but I think it’s the second-biggest hotel room I’ve ever had. It’s not far short of the size of my whole flat (and my en-suite has a bathtub).

Opera North Peter Grimes.

That said, I did find my way to the excellent Barrel Drop where the chorus were hiding. I thought I’d spotted a pal in the extra chorus that I hadn’t known was in this, and I was right. THAT bar stayed open until just now 🥰

Update: the same bar also calls last orders at 10:30pm before the cast get out. So, not all sunshine & roses.

I should go to the opera in Nottingham more often. The theatre bar sells decent real ale and it’s £4.70 a pint 😯

No, it’s the one they’ve had since 2006. I first saw it at Sadlers Wells the day I moved into my flat!

I think Vye-Ohla is another possible pronunciation (I believe that’s how the ballet dancer Viola Pantuso pronounces her name).

“Viola House”

New block of flats at Elephant & Castle. Pronounced like the flower/Shakespearean heroine, or like the butt of all orchestral musicians’ jokes, I wonder? 🤔

I’m not a regular Wordler these days, but I think people are going to struggle today. I did eventually get it in 6.

Just wanted to thank you again for this recommendation - I’m having dinner at Kushi-ya tomorrow evening before Peter Grimes.

I love the production - I think this is its fourth run. I saw the first 2 but missed a more recent one. Notable this time for my friend Philippa Boyle making her company debut as Ellen Orford.

I’m off to Nottingham tomorrow to see Opera North’s Peter Grimes. Is anyone else I know going to be there?