Minnesota Opera

About five years ago I saw Turandot here and I've been a fan ever since. I grant I am not a highly knowledgeable attendee. I love theatre, and I know much more about theatre than I am ever likely to know on opera. In a few of the past five years, I got the three opera season tickets ( you can also do four and five opera tickets) and I can honestly say I have not seen a bad show. The productions of The Magic Flute and Turandot were among my favorites. The modern opera, Dead Man Walking was simply amazing. It's great how you can pre order drinks and desserts for intermission, and seating is comfortable and reasonably spacious. For parking be prepared to walk a few blocks and to drop anyone needing assistance at the front door. The Ordway is of course surrounded by good places to eat and drink pre and post performance.I am unsure how I feel about their "Tempo" club, which offers steeply reduced B and below seat to those 45 and under and special events. It is supposedly to attract younger patrons as Opera fans but I think it carries its age range beyond students and the truly young in an unreasonable way. Opportunities for the "old" to save are mostly around poorer season tickets, it seems unbalanced and designed to attract prettier audience members. That said, if you are 45 or under and interested in trying opera, it's another incentive I grant. If you want to start slow on opera get yourself tickets to a modern opera like this seasons "The Fix", make sure to reserve that drink/desert for intermission and enjoy. It's a nice night out.

I got ticket to see a opera here couple weeks ago with my boyfriend who has always wanted to go. I purchased them online and sent by mail. Easy.No one told me that going too the opera you dress up like your going to the Oscars hahaha I just went with jeans heels and my northface same for my boyfriend minus the heels. Everyone looked so fancy we looked like were going to the barAnyways we go to our seats and omg the seats are for like tiny ppl no room to move. My boyfriend was like wtf I cant let my friends get crushed down there. And the seats are so close to one another its a lil awkward. Other than that the show was great it was not in english subtitles were up on a lil screen so it was aannoying to look and read and look back at the actors I think it was in german. Lasted 2 hour long I couldnt feel my butt haha I am making it sound awful but really its not we are going back but prepared this time we will dress up like we millionaires and we will bring a butt pillowGood place to take a date my tickets were 25 each and the view is not bad at all.

Silent Night was beautifully performed by vocalists and orchestra. The story line is so relevant today as it was 100 years + ago. Stop the fighting, if, for only one night and perhaps, just perhaps, the fighting will end forever. To think that such a beautiful opera was first developed and performed here in, St. Paul. The Minnesota Opera is a magnificent performing arts company. I have been to operas all over the world and nothing can best what we have right here in Minnesota. Bravo, Brava, Minnesota Opera.

Beautiful, fabulous, amazing performances. I've seen Carmen, La Boheme, and Turandot. All 3 Operas were done so incredibly well, I was very impressed. La Boheme was my absolute favorite, as they portrayed it so beautifully and fluid. I am excited to see The Marriage of Figaro this coming Fall. I have heard many wonderful reviews of this opera. I would recommend anyone to see the opera here in MN. we are very fortunate in MN to be able to have these very skilled and talented opera performers in so many classic operas and for a reasonable price.

The Minnesota Opera is the state's resident opera company, with all performances staged at the Ordway Center in St. Paul. Five productions comprise the opera house's season, with the first in late September, and the last running through April and May. Dale Johnson, the Minnesota Opera's Artistic Director, has won some acclaim nationally for the opera house's eclectic programming. While the season typically features two beloved warhorses--such as La Bohème or Carmen--the remaining three productions explore obscure, lesser known works from the bel canto repertoire (a 19th century sub-genre that celebrates ornate singing and vocal agility), as well as works by contemporary American masters over the last three decades. In offering such a diverse program, the Minnesota Opera seems keen on pleasing multiple audiences: the opera aficionado, for whom the charms of bel canto are likeliest to appeal, and the novice, likely to be seduced by Puccini, Verdi or Mozart. Contemporary works (such as last year's much hyped staging of Pinocchio) are a hit or miss; musically they tend to lack traits many of us adore about opera, such as histrionic plots, showstopping arias and gorgeous period costumes. At the same time, contemporary pieces are crafted with a sense of realism often lacking in operatic standards (the incestuous Wagnerian storylines reach great heights of sublime absurdity). Audiences at a Minnesota Opera production resemble those at other local classical music events: older (55 seems to be the median age), White and wealthy. Still, a small cadre of younger opera queens and students of voice are always present, offering us a glimmer of hope that refined musical tastes can survive in an age of Miley Cyrus and American Idol. Sartorially, Minnesota Opera goers are comparatively informal; business wear and cocktail dresses are the norm, rather than the suits and gowns often seen at the elite opera houses, such as the Met or Lyric Opera. The occasional khaki or jean-wearing buffoon makes an appearance, but this is Minnesota, after all.In terms of seating, first row balcony boxes are the best (and priciest), and the first 10 or so rows on the main floor are the worst, acoustically and physically (you'll have to stretch your head and neck up to read the translated libretto above the stage). Rush tickets are available, but not when La Traviata or Madama Butterfly are on stage.

I have been deeply impressed by almost everything I have seen here in the past few years. Don Giovanni in '05 was superbly done and last year I died a little for Faust with the delectable Kyle Ketelsen (anything he is in, I will have to go to). Salome was pretty darn amazing too.I like that they bring in the the best of the best from the Opera scene and really work to make unique and often unorthodox interpretations of classics. Changing a setting can make an old favorite either abhorrent or awesome, but I like to see what the Artistic Director is going to concoct next. Someday, when I make lots of money, I will have a subscription, which really does save money in the long-run if you really love opera, but for now, I will content myself to one show a year.Next season, watch for La Traviata, the MUST see opera of all time. If you only hit one show, I'm banking that this is it.

The Minnesota Opera is a company inspired by bel canto ("beautiful singing") operas, the ideal upon which Italian opera is based. Bel canto values emphasize intense emotional expression supported by exquisite technique and can be seen in the selections of the opera's that they choose. They are one of the only opera companies in the country that operates with a balanced budget, and has performed new works every year. From "The Adventures of Pinocchio", "Wuthering Heights", the award winning "Silent Night", the MN Opera knows how to put together a show.As someone who loves the theater, singing, music, and drama, the MN Opera knows how to pick some of the best operas. Something that people forget is that opera was originally created for the masses. The story lines are not stuffy and a lot of them have inspired many major movies and musicals that people love (Moulin Rouge, Rent. . just to name a few). If you are under 40, there is a program called Tempo that is an awesome program to try opera out. You get tickets for 80% off the original price, get to go to a free after party with drink specials and free food on opening night, and you get to meet people like you. What could be better?? If you haven't seen an opera, I suggest you do. I will be there, so come find me and we can hang.

Minnesota Opera performs at the Ordway in St. Paul. I love opera as a classical art and Minnesota opera does a fantastic job, I am so happy to have this option in Minnesota.Apart from the quality of performance, the Minnesota Opera is probably the last place in Minnesota to attend a formal performance where gentlemen still wear tuxedos and ladies wear evening gowns. Sadly, even this has changed over the past few years. I've seen more jeans and casual manners which some would see as good, but I do not. I think it's good to still have a certain amount of decorum for certain events. So bring out your finest and attend a show, you won't be disappointed unless you truly do not appreciate classical music.

Beware: Customer service uses frustrated, underemployed MFAs with major attitude.

Used to be great, but not so much anymore. La boheme 3 or 4 years ago was the last good thing they've done. It's like they're allergic to talent.