Opera Hamilton Bats Around “Die Fledermaus”
Opera Hamilton began its 30th anniversary season this weekend with a production of Johann Strauss’s fun and flighty Die Fledermaus. A rather silly tale of a stale marriage enlivened by flirtation, with a social-climbing chambermaid, a strange Russian prince and a revenge-seeking friend, it’s full of recognizable music that gets the audience swaying and tapping feet. And with Strauss, there has to be a wonderful waltz at a ball.
Performed in the beautiful, impressive Great Hall of Hamilton Place, Opera Hamilton’s work is proof that you don’t have to struggle with Toronto in order to enjoy first-rate entertainment.
Opera Hamilton was also just the recipient of a $140,000 grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation. “Popera Plus” in late January and La Bohème in April are the next scheduled works in the Opera Hamilton season. Are you a fan of opera or Hamilton Place? Do you prefer local entertainment or do you love the excitement of Toronto?
Congratulations to Opera Hamilton for 30 years of presenting opera! Not an easy achievement I’m sure. Kitchener-Waterloo has a fledgling opera company (first season last year), born after the demise of Opera Ontario. I do believe in supporting local companies such as these.
However, I must say that I am thrilled to be able to attend the Robert Lepage production of The Nightingale at the COC in Toronto this coming week. This may be a once-in-a lifetime experience that is less likely to be produced in an outlying district such a Hamilton, but you never know!
Budget tip: Opera Hamilton’s cheapest regular tickets are $40 while Canadian Opera Company tickets are $62. So you can save quite a bit! think of it: for a couple you’re saving $44 total. NOt bad. And the quality of performance is equal.
Opera Kitchener’s top price is $40, seniors and students are $30 –> orchestra , chorus, sets, costumes and top soloists! WOW their performance was at a discount price for a first rate show last weekend.(Jan. 3rd)
For a fledgling company, they are sure flying strong!
We want more!