Free Events: Bastien & Bastienne @ Farmleigh

Described as the ‘perfect production for people who would like to sample risk free opera’, Mozart’s Bastien & Bastienne is coming to Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Saturday September 10th. It’s a story any Irish person ought know - about two young farmers, madly in love until Bastien (the boy) goes to the big city and gets involved with another woman. When he returns Bastienne (the girl) wants nothing to do with him and so ensues the comic attempt to regain her affections. Written when Mozart was just 12, the opera is just 45 minutes long - a taster to see if you’re into it - and is performed as Opera Theatre Company’s Autumn touring production for their 25th anniversary. As it’s free at Farmleigh, the OPW are managing tickets for the event and here’s the link to enter into the lottery: http://www.farmleigh.ie/Events/Title,16393,en.html If you miss out, other (paid) performances … There’s more

The Magic Flute by Mozart

Last week I saw live opera for the first time ever thanks to Dublin City Council’s Opera In The Open series. Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’ was the first in a series of five outdoor operas taking place over the month of August in the amphitheatre at Wood Quay Civic Offices as Darragh told you all last week. The place was packed out by the time I got there at 12.45pm despite the 1pm start and I took a spot on the grass. The set was non-existent and the costumes were basic, probably in a very similar vein to very early travelling actor troupes. We were given the bare bones of the story before Act One and Act Two. You have Prince Tamino, trying to rescue Pamina, Queen of the Night and having to go through many ordeals to do so, Papageno and Papagena finally being united as lovers just moments … There’s more