In my last week of September, I experienced some performances of beautiful music.
On Monday I went to the Royal Opera House to watch a performance of La Boheme by Puccini. It was very special to me as I have never seen the production live before and the music is just stunning. I was lucky enough, in August, to purchase a student ticket for the performance. These special student tickets were greatly subsidised and ranged from £1-25. The seats were generously donated by the Bunting Family and Sir Simon Robey and I’m so grateful to them to be able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity as watching these fabulous operas is so important to our development as students. The production was vivacious and the singers had great chemistry on stage and sublime voices. The set design by Stewart Lang was divine and I remember sitting with my mouth open during the transition of scenery from act 1 (the annex) to act 2 (boutique streets of Paris), which was visible to the audience.
Then on Friday evening after a busy week of making music at the RCM, I went to see Sarah Connelly perform at the Wigmore Hall. The concert was very moving and her beautiful velvety tone was consistent from the first song to the last. It was wonderful as a student of Opera to watch and admire her stamina and artistry guiding the music of the evening. Connelly also wore a fantastic sparkly dress which I particularly enjoyed. After all sparkles on Friday is definitely a must especially now the nights are drawing in.
Then today to bring in the new month, I celebrated my parent’s wedding anniversary with them over FaceTime and then I went to an Escape Room with my brother Matt and our friends Alex and Sarah. We arrived at clueQuest just before 13:00 and there we were ‘locked’ (safely) in a room, that expands as you successfully find more clues. Whilst in the Room you have to solve all the puzzles in a 60-minute countdown. I was able to live out my Nancy Drew fantasy of solving a detective crime story. It was a wonderful experience and very mentally stimulating, perhaps not the most restful Sunday activity. All in all, it was terrifically entertaining and I would definitely go again.
The mystery 60 minutes does sound like fun. Glad you could do it.
Thanks John it was a great midday activity, my brother is the ultimate game person, so it’s always very exciting, when I asked Matt what happens if you lose the game he said the room blows up hehe only joking!
Best wishes
Charlotte
I like that answer. A true gamer.
You can picture yourself on that stage one day, can’t you?!! I’m very glad you were able to final see it live.
Please wish your parents the very best for their anniversary! They have done such a wonderful job with you and your brothers.
I’d love to be on that stage one day 💕 😀. I’ve seen it on DVD and read about the opera but it’s just so exciting to see the whole spectacle come to life.
34 years ago they got married after meeting a couple of years before on a blind date 💕I’ll pass your best wishes on. Thank you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you.
Charlotte, It is wonderful to hear from you again! The relatively infrequency of your recent posts shows me that you are using your time well as a music student, and I really enjoy sharing your excitement as you discover more and more repertoire! Of course, I love the music of La Boheme—especially since my son was able to be one of the children in the second act. He even got to steal an apple from one of the street vendors! I remember a composer I knew whom I called once to discuss one his new pieces, and I heard Boheme in the background at his house. “Puccini?” I asked. “Melodies to die for!” he said.
And 60-minute countdown sounds like so much FUN! But what happens if you don’t solve it in 60 minutes? I am imagining a scenario like “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allen Poe . . . Glad you made it out alive!
Loved reading about your son I bet he loved it. I particularly enjoy Puccini and his slightly shorter Acts I think work well.
My big brother doesn’t like to lose so he probably wouldn’t invite me back for another visit hehe.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Such adventures you undertake… I am smiling because I can feel the excitement in your words. Many happy returns to your parents. And I have to say that as I have never heard of such a thing as an Escape Room but I grateful I can live it vicariously! Cheers.
It was a great fun activity and gave me a nice midday break, I’d like to go back and do another challenge. I asked my parents if they’d had a nice relaxing day and typically they’ve been doing a declutter all weekend 😳.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I love La Boheme. Love your bird cage blouse, you are looking splendid! Hope your first week or so back at class is going well? x
I love my bird cage dress I’ve had it a while now and it washes great. It’s settling down well with some new teachers and a new coach this year so lots of new experiences.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Nice news, nice share, nice to see your smille. Thanks a lot to take time for all of us , really nice of you !! wishe you the best, for you and familly 🙂 !
My Nana is so used to my weekly diary she misses her update if I don’t get chance to blog 😄. It’s been a good week, Merci beaucoup Pascal.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wonderful time, dear Charlotte! I’m very happy for you! Wish you more interesting performances! Best wishes, Maria 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks Maria, I hope so.
Best wishes to you 😊
Charlotte✨
🙂
A real locked room mystery, sounds fun! I think it’s great that you can see/hear music you love as you study.
I can’t thank the donors enough for helping me to experience these performances at such a brilliant venue. The mystery puzzles were great fun.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Dear Charlotte,
Way to go at the RCM may the Lord bless you richly my beloved. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not to thine understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct the pathway.
Thank you Rev Tim It’s nice to have someone watching out for me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
We will be seeing Bohême this coming Friday with a daughter and friend, so glad to hear it is going well.
It’s a super performance, the set is amazing I won’t say more so that I don’t ruin it for you but you’ll love it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Know what you mean but I do Scooby Doo perspective. Now since on the Gulf Coast it is why did Harvey do that.:) I just switch to the Jimmy Stewart movie Harvey where Harvey remains an invisible white rabbit that cleaned some of my base boards and left by the back door. Left a mess in the garage. Did not disturb the electricity.
Nice to hear from you. Yes Harvey must have been dreadful, we have clear seasonal weather patterns but hopefully not many hurricanes.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It’s great to hear you are so enjoying this time and soaking up all the experiences of other’s performances. One day when you have become established on the stage it will be other young people coming to hear you. .
Someone else was telling me about these escape rooms. She went with her young grand children and every so often they got a clue over a loudspeaker so there must be someone watching from a control booth. You smart detectives obviously didn’t need any help 😀
They said over half the teams don’t escape and our team work and communication was good – it was clear we had good rapport which was good Matts really competitive and a real energy in situations like that so it was good fun.
I always try to help out young students or their parents that write to me as best I can.
My best wishes
Charlotte
Escape room was fun. I had a chance to go to one and our team barely made it. I am wondering whether after you came out, did they give each person in the team evaluation or not? The room we went did that. My evaluation was not great 🙂
We had 1min 5 secs spare, they just said well done. They said over half the teams don’t escape and our communication and team work was good – it was clear we had good rapport 😀.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
That was good. I think my team had much less than a minute 🙂
Looks like you were found out. Great selfie! Love your dress. Love the mystery puzzles.
Wonderful venues and wonderful entertainment! Great fun and inspirations too.
All the best, Darlene
Yes we succeeded with 1 min 5 secs to spare 😥. It’s one of my favourite dresses I’ve had it for years so I’m glad you like it too.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
La Boheme: Oh, lucky you, dear Charlotte… I bet it was stunning… Thanks for keeping us tunned. Wishing you a great week ahead xx 😀
Thanks for keeping in touch 💕. Wishing you a great week ahead too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Have nice day
Thank you Amritpal I’ve had a lovely day I hope you did too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Once again Charlotte you have lifted me up and put me in your world for a few moments and once again I loved it! You look so happy you are truly blessed to be able to work doing something you love, well done. It is a lovely photo of you and Matt and I am intrigued with the escape room, never heard of them! Is it a bit like crystal maze? If you don’t complete the puzzle you get locked in? Awesome, 😘
Matt said I’d get blown up if I didn’t do well 😳 hehe. I haven’t seen the Crystal maze to say, but it’s like that game you used to play on your computer using logic. You’d enjoy it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I envy you La Boheme and the Wigmore Hall recital. I’ve seen the former several times including at Covent Garden but the most recent was in Leeds with Opera North, a few years ago now. I liked the ‘modern’ setting but some did not. Always look forward to your posts – keep the coming please.
I’d like to see the opera performed by different companies and sets you must spot something new each time and the music is just divine. Thank you,
Best wishes
Charlotte
The Escape Room sounds like so much fun, Charlotte! You really do do some of the most interesting things!
Best regards,
Cate
You would enjoy it Cate it’s a really good team event. Not too easy either! Lovely to hear from you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Your Escape Room adventure sounds fantastic. How many different challenges are available?
There were three scenarios and they follow on from one another we started with number 1, there are lots of different challenges in that hour but I don’t want to say what they are because it’s great fun to do if someone’s in London.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Yes, yes, don’t spoil the surprise! Hoping it is still around, because I’m so looking forward to doing this if I visit London in the future. Happy week to you.
Thanks for sharing.
Seemingly you’ve had some very special entertaining experiences!Belated wishes for your parent’s wedding anniversary!Have a peaceful and creative autumn,dear Charlotte 🙂 xxx
Belated congratulations to your parents! I am glad you enjoyed La Boheme and the recital at Wigmore Hall. I remember seeing La Boheme at the Royal Opera House many years ago (in the 70’s!) and still recall the beauty of it and my great pleasure at seeing it. My elder daughter recently went an Escape Room with her friends and had a fantastic time. I love solving puzzles but I think I’d probably have difficulty coping with the countdown! I don’t respond well to pressure! 🙂
Happy Anniversary to your parents! How nice that you got to spend time with your brother and took part in the mystery. There is a little Nancy Drew inside you! LOL! Must have been quite enjoyable to see La Boheme. Hugs xx
A perfect day it seems ~ especially to bring in the new month along with your parents and their wedding anniversary. From your opening photo and the happiness of this post, I think it will be just a matter of time until some young girl is writing about seeing you up on the stage performing. 🙂
We have Escape Rooms here in the Raleigh area – they are great fun from what I’ve heard, so we’ll try one soon! I saw a live production of La Boheme at Severence Hall (home of the Cleveland Symphony) when I was a grad student in Cleveland – I got in free because was an usher. Spectacular. Being an usher got me in to see and hear the most wondrous music and productions. Lovely to hear you are having fun!
Yay for affordable opera tickets! Glad you enjoyed it. Also, escape rooms are so much fun! I got to do one last year and I loved it. 🙂
I’d like to do the next challenge, lovely to hear from you Stephanie 😊🌸
“La Boheme” is my favorite opera! Love Murger’s novel, “Vie de Boheme.”
Warm regards,
PM