Stage: Bravi – Russian State Opera performs the premiere of Tosca and Madama Butterfly

Opera is so often branded as being an elitist and expensive art form, and in some circumstances it can certainly be expensive, or should I say that it does not come cheap. Some of the finest companies charge what they do because that is what it costs, and some are not in receipt of any government funding to do what they do either. So I tip my hat to the brilliant Glyndebourne who not only do it so well but also have programmes that offer affordable tickets to young people, and an amazing touring programme where they are certainly not expensive.

I also praise Ellen Kent who champions affordable opera productions year on year to much acclaim. Her company tour indefatigably, bringing the classic repertoire to a wide audience and offering people the opportunity to see, hear and decide if opera is for them.

And now we can see the highly acclaimed Russian State Opera as it returns to Sussex and the Hawth in Crawley with two of the most colourful & exotic and tragic operas, well tragedy so often plays a part in this art form and gives rose to some of the most beautiful and plaintive music ever written.

Few operas match the tragedy and sorrow of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Set in Japan at the turn of the century, Madama Butterfly is a stunning work and a brilliant introduction to opera with memorable melodies throughout. It tells the story of a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to heartbreak and tragedy.

Some of the most plaintive music ever written

Puccini’s Tosca is a melodrama where love and politics collide, and murder takes place at the highest level. Tosca is one of the most emotionally engaging and popular operas of all time and again packed with memorable arias.

If you’ve never tried opera before but want to, where better than with these two excellent opportunities to hear a full 30 piece orchestra, a fine chorus and excellent soloists, the full experience with brand new settings and fantastic costumes, exquisite singing, and those wonderful tunes that may well turn you into the full-on opera buff.

This autumn you can also see the Glyndebourne Tour at their beautiful Sussex home with productions of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Brett Dean’s new work Hamlet and Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

12 Sep, Madama Butterfly
13 Sept, Tosca
The Hawth Crawley, 01293 553636
Glyndebourne Tour at home 7-26 October see website for full times and dates (full tour runs until 2 December)
glyndebourne.com,
01273 815000