Last opera direct of the season

Opera lovers who regularly attend local cinemas for productions beamed live from New York's famous Metropolitan Opera House. Saturday sees the last of the season when Renee Fleming sings her trademark role as the Marechal in Richard Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" (Le Chevalier a la Rose). Saturday 13th May, 18h30 at various local cinemas, including Imagin Cinema, Gaillac.

Opera at Mas del Sol

The performance on Wed Nov 12th  6pm  of Madame Butterfly is now fully booked.
The next performance on Wed Dec 10th at 6pm with a recording from The Metropolitan Opera of Cinderella (La Cenerentola or Cendrillon by Rossini) still has a few seats left. A seasonal production with offerings of mince pies and Christmas cake to help us get into the festive spirit. 
book now to reserve your seat at 
Christmas festive booking to taglines82@gmail.com

The next Opera is the 12th of Nov.

Wednesday 12th of Nov is the date of the next Opera, Madame Butterfly.
The production is from the Met. and starrs Patricia Racette, Maria Zifchak, Marcello Giordani and Dwayne Croft and the production is from 2009
We only have 2 places left if you were thinking of coming.
Someone has just said of last night it was "inoubliable" / unforgetable.
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What a fabulous opera, Tosca.

Does it get better, a comfy seat amongst friends, a glass of wine or two and aperos before going into a production of Puccini' s Tosca with Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufman and Bryn Terfel at the Royal Opera House.
We clapped along with the audience in the interval and at the end, some cried. Just a lovely evening with a good mix of nationalities.
One French man said but I am so sad. I asked if he was coming to the next which is Madame Butterfly, he is.  I said if you thought that sad bring your " mouchoirs" for the next. In fact mouchoirs may be supplied.
Lots of money now going to Sautou.
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Can you believe our third Opera season?

Our third Opera season starts tonight. Chairs are in place, brushed to remove dog and cat hairs, floors mopped, flies smashed with the tapette.
 We learnt that the biggest distraction on the night was flies landing on the screen and the very first night of the first season a huge fly took a liking to Placido Domingo's nose, very distracting following the movements of that fly.
So with lessons learnt we go into our third season. Wish us well, the night as well as being for enjoyment  has a serious purpose which is raising money to support those little African children who have nothing.( when we have so much)
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Tosca at Mas del Sol on Wednesday direct from the Royal Opera house

Well directish,  by way of a 2011 production on DVD.
A full house booked  for Tosca on Wednesday 15th, so this is just a reminder to those who have booked that we start this season at 6 pm.
Look forward to seeing you all here. There is a label at the top of the TAG page with more opera information and how to get to Mas del Sol.
 We have 4 places left for the second of the series Madame Butterfly in November.
Malc says: just read a review of the new production of "Tosca" at the Opera de la Bastille in Paris. It is running there until the end of November and sounds to be innovative and well sung. Just one thing clanged a bit - the final act takes place in a field, so how can Tosca throw herself from the battlements? Sorry if this has spoilt the ending for you!
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Tosca is now fully booked

The Opera season at Mas del Sol is off with a swing and the first Opera is fully booked with others still hoping to come. We are looking to arrange at another evening in October for the same production. We will let you know when this night is confirmed.
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Now that's what I call music..

A day of fluctuating emotions led us to run through the DVD for the first opera night of 2014. The Royal Opera House in London had a revival of Puccini's Tosca in 2011 and for two nights only invited a star cast to sing the main roles and filmed it.
Angela Gheorghiu as Tosca, Jonas Kaufmann as Cavaradossi and Bryn Terfel as Scarpia bring wonderful singing and interpretation to the roles and with great support from the cast and orchestra this is a sumptuous treat. We watched on the television and can't wait to see it on the large screen. Bookings are already rolling in for Wednesday 15th October at 6pm. Dont miss it.
bookings to taglines82@gmail.com

Opera at Mas del Sol / hiver 2014

For those already asking about the programme, work is underway to come up with interesting operas and  productions.
We have the dates
Wed Oct 15th note the earlier time at 6 pm ( not 6.30pm)
Wed Nov 12th  6pm
Wed Dec 10th at 6pm
This winter we are making changes, starting earlier we will offer only a drink, not an apero dinatoire and instead of charging 10 euros we will make it participation libre, basically pay what you like. The money taken will still go to Via Sahel Enfants d'Afrique but  we accept it may be less.
Why you may ask would we do this?
We are hoping to encourage more French people in Varen to come and join in. This may or may not work but till January we will give it a try. We feel in a spirit of integration us all mixing could be as valuable as giving money to the children.
If we by any chance are swamped with bookings, we can consider  what to do then.

We are going to commence with Puccini's Tosca: a performance from the Royal Opera House in 2011. That will be in October
In November it will be Puccini again and  for a second time but with a different production of Madame Butterfly. ( we showed it with an early DVD of a young Placido Domingo in the first ever season)
In December  we have a few choices which we are still deciding upon.
If you want to book any of these evenings please book by contacting us at    mail@bromlea.com
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Vous avez entendu de - ou même assisté à - nos soirées d'opéra. Projeté sur un grand écran avec un système de son multi enceinte les DVDs sont des meilleurs présentations de l'Opera Metropolitan de New York, Royal Opera House de Londres ou même des festivals comme Aix en Provence.
Et les titres pour cette saison sont très populaires

Mercredi 15 octobre 18h Tosca de Puccini. Chanté en Italien. ROH de Londres 2011
Mercredi 12 novembre 18h Madame Butterfly de Puccini: Chanté en Italien. Met de New York 2009
Mercredi 10 décembre 18h à decider.

Entrée sur réservation. Participation libre au profit de Via Sahel; Enfants d'Afrique.

reservations: mail@bromlea.com ou 0563 640673

The seasons over, but what a great time we have had.

Seven operas over the winter; ranging from Rigoletto to the Mikado. 110 people have attended and exactly 1,000 euros clear has been raised for Via Sahel Enfants d' Afrique.
I said in an earlier post that we were grateful for everyone coming up our winding road in the dark in winter and someone reminded me tonight that they had even come up in thick fog. The same person said " but you must have the opera again next winter" and God willing we will.
Tonight we had three people on the comfy sofa two well into their eighties and one ninety and we appreciate them coming out to support the charity close to our heart... caring for very deprived children.
Thank you all
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Opera at Mas del Sol tomorrow, last night of the season.

What a good season it has been, what a mix of nationalities  have supported us and what wonderful operas, with out too many hiccups.
Tomorrow night we will be showing to a packed house " The Barber of Seville" by Rossini.
A good opportunity to thank you all for supporting us in our endeavours to raise money for African children of the streets, who are supported by Via Sahel Enfants D' Afrique.
In rain, wind, very little shine, you have driven up that winding road following the sheep signs to Mas del Sol, many times in the dark, you really do have our grateful thanks.
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Bizet's Carmen from the Royal Opera House

Next Wednesday 12th at 6.30pm Mas del Sol productions are having another Opera evening with proceeds going to Via Sahel Enfants d'Afrique. The seats are fully booked but if for any reason you cannot make  it let us know as we have others who will take your place. Our penultimate Opera evening of the season.
The next  and last  opera is in April is "The Barber of Seville"with Cecilia Bartoli
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A treat for opera lovers

Hi Val,

I thought that your Opera Lovers might enjoy listening to this - she is amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEMR3A4WLC8&list=RDFUnrLMvpQLk&index=24

Best wishes,

Sue

What an amazing clip and what a lovely little girl! It brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for sharing.
Debra
Val says - tears to my eyes too.

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In April the Opera will be "The Barber of Seville"

April was left open for an Opera choice and after many discussions with fellow opera buffs we have decided to go with Iga Rewse Davies' s preferred option. So votes are in for " The Barber of Seville" by Rossini with Cecilia Bartoli singing.
We had our concerns about this as Iga being Polish kept mentioning a  Polish Opera she would like to see on the big screen. In reality the sub titles if we wanted them are in Polish, but when we dispense with them we are left with an Italian opera performed in Germany.
Bookings will commence straight away.
For new readers, anyone who wants to come to these evenings is welcomed here at Mas del Sol. We charge 10 euros for an apero dinatoire and then the Opera showing on a big screen with surround sound. Monies raised go to help feed street children in Africa.
Bookings to   Val   mail@bromlea.com
The Opera for  Wed. 12 th of Feb is The Marriage of Figaro
and for March 12th  Carmen 
Once again get your seats booked now, [if you have not already done so.]
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Sushi and Opera

Thank you to Gill Catterall for making a lovely plate of sushi and accompanying nibbles, followed by green tea shortbread, which we enjoyed before watching the opera last night. An enjoyable evening with the regular dozer nudged only twice!
Two couples at the evening wanted details of Gill Catterall's daughter in law Yuki's cook book so I will add details in a minute for others who may be interested.

Yuki’s new book is available from Amazon and all good bookshops  http://www.yukiskitchen.com/ https://www.facebook.com/yukikitchen

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Mas del Sol Opera evening

Tonight at 6.30pm here at Mas del Sol, for one night only,  a performance of Hansel and Gretel. We will be serving  sugar plum fairy cakes,  mice pies, piggy rolls with lashings of ginger beer or wine for those who prefer it, but no gingerbread except in the performance. Another great evening planned.
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