After just one month, curtain falls on Savoy Opera. the editor of Opera magazine said
It's not going to do opera's reputation any good. It makes it look a bit unviable. It reinforces the elitist stereotypes that it can carry on up the road in the subsidised opera houses but the 'people's opera' couldn't do it.
He may or may not be right. However, The Royal Opera House conducted a survey which showed that 37% of bookings were from First Timers. My experience of going to both RoH and ENO is that the audience isn't especially elitist. The four occasions I have been this year have been appeared to be sold-out - Valkyrie should be interesting, being so much longer, and having an awkward start time of 5pm.
And really, to get a seat at RoH with full view of the stage for �25-�35, for three hours or so entertainment compares well with other entertainment - someone told me last week it costs �50 for a seat to Chelsea FC.
