Opera and Balthazar

I don't consider myself an expert on Opera - not even close to a beginner - but I really like going down to the Royal Opera House with my friends the Opera Lovers - as then we tend to combine the cultural bit with a dinner; indeed convenient as it's just around the corner.

Don Giovanni was the play in the programme for the evening, a story that it's really close to my heart - or my sister's-in-law heart I should say - as her PhD is based on Don Giovanni so I made sure that I was prepared - pre-reading the play and the story is highly recommended. Even if the dialogues are summarised in English in different screens across the House, it's always useful to know the story beforehand to be able to focus on the music.

I'd heard mixed reviews from Balthazar before I went there for the first time, both from the one in NYC and the one here in London, so I tried not to have high expectations to avoid disappointment. I have to say that I love the place, the noise of the full house, the drinks, the food!

We shared the ceviche, which compared to the ceviche that you can get in Peruvian restaurants wasn't too special, and the burrata that was actually quite nice. For the mains, I had a fillet very yummy (with incredible sauteed spinach); F went for the gnocchi and she said they were nothing special - please consider the fact that her dad is Italian so she's been eating proper pasta during all her life.

The wine list is purely French, and make sure you have the credit card prepared because nice cool places don't come around cheap.

Chocolate in the dessert is always a must!

DETAILS:
Royal Opera House -  www.roh.org.uk/‎ - Bow St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD
Balthazar -  balthazarlondon.com/‎ - 6 Russell St, London WC2B 5HZ

The Book of Mormon

I went to see The Book of Mormon some time ago thanks to a birthday present from my friends - yes, I have amazing friends.

The Book of Mormon won the Tony Award to best musical in 2012 and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album in 2013, and they have been representing sold out shows in Broadway and the West End for years now.

If you're not fan of the awards or facts, let me simply tell you that the story is hilarious - something not hard to imagine when you combine an absurd doctrine with the script writers of South Park. So please do yourself a favour and invest some money in the theatre to spend 2+ hours of non-stop laughter.

I won't disclose anything about the story, and please don't ask anyone about it or read anything. The surprise effect if worth it!

DETAILS:
The Book of Mormon - bookofmormonlondon.com/ - Prince of Wales Theatre - Coventry St, London W1D 6AS

Opera and The Savoy Gril

No brainier this was one of the plans right before Christmas, and it was actually the last Saturday I was in London in 2013 before departing to Spain and coming back in 2014. I realised one of my long time pending dreams to see The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House. I've been to see ballet in the ROH before but I had never seen this specific show, so I was really excited when one of our friends and supporter of the ROH managed to get the tickets.

As any production at the ROH, the setting was stunning and everything was just flawless, even if the main ballerina was unable to perform. I am always amazed how they ballerinas are able to float over the tips of their toes across the stage as if they were weightless - I know that this is something that I will never be able to do although it hasn't stopped me to attend to some basic ballet classes in this new year. It's never too late! 

So to top the evening at the Opera up, we decided to book a table at The Savoy Grill run since it reopened by Gordon Ramsay. I think I can still taste the superb beef wellington that we ordered, and I realised why he makes the contestants of Hell Kitchen to do them again and again. The dinner was incredible and I will need to come up with another occasion to celebrate to go back there again soon! I did feel like a movie star :-)

DETAILS:
Royal Opera House - www.roh.org.uk/Productions - Bow St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD
Savoy Grill - www.gordonramsay.com/thesavoygrill/‎ - Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2R 0EU 

Rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen

Even if my favourite rugby tournament is the Six Nations as I've been watching with my dad since I was little, I couldn't pass the opportunity to go and see the Internationals, especially considering that it would be watching England vs the All Blacks (New Zealand).

The initial plan was to take my brother who was going to be in town for the occasion - well, because he was here over the week due to work so he was staying for 1 extra night to go to the game - but he had to go back to Madrid so I went with S, as other than my eternal companion for all types of adventures, she's a rugby lover as well.

We arrived in Twickenham with enough time to get some food and some champagne before the game - it was very chic to be drinking some pink bubbles whilst eating some South African stake and sausages in a bun - I had all the instructions and directions thanks to my friend John who is a rugby player and connoisseur of the area. We didn't have enough time to go to all the pubs he mentioned but we went to where all the tents are by the parking lot, the place where everyone gathers before the game.

Then we got into the stadium to see the ending of the warm up, hearing the National anthem (although there were a couple of issues with the microphone), and then enjoying the game. The Aborigine chant from the Kiwis was totally eclipsed by the crowd singing 'Swing low, Sweet Chariot'. England lost the game but it was a really great experience for a Saturday afternoon. I can't wait for the Six Nations now! 

 

 

DETAILS:
Rugby Union - www.rfu.com/‎

Vamos Rafa!

It was quite some months ago when enjoying Easter time under the Sri Lankan sun that we decided to spend some money in developing the sport-cultural aspect of our life, and we got tickets to see the final of the ATP Masters. It played way in our favour as we were able to enjoy 2 finals with Spanish representation, with 1 couple ending up as champions.

Then it turned out that the singles final gathered #1 and #2 of the ranking, so the night couldn't be better. The crowd that surrounds the tennis is quite varied, so you can see a bit of everything - yes, and great tennis too ;-)

What I think I liked the most was the fact that there were a lot of English people supporting Rafa Nadal shouting 'Vamos Rafa'; he's actually magnificent but I had never experience such a support before- even if I know that he's well liked around the world.

So it was quite an amazing experience and I can't say otherwise as I missed one of my friends from uni who was actually in town for a couple of days and she does love tennis. This is to you Boli!

 DETAILS:
ATP Finals London - www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/‎ - www.atpworldtour.com/‎
Rafael Nadal - www.rafaelnadal.com/‎

A Night at the Opera

I stole the name to this post to what probably is my favourite film from the Marx Brothers, and one of my favourite films over all but in this case I’m not writing about movies but about the actual Opera. As described in one of my previous posts, the Royal Opera House is a majestic building in London, and now it was a time to check it from the inside – well, I had actually already visited it to see the ballet a couple of times but this was the first time to watch the Opera.

As any performance in this city, the tickets to the Opera get sold out really quickly, especially the affordable tickets as sitting on the stalls costs an absolute fortune – so if you’re keen in going to the Opera and/or ballet it’s worth becoming a member (http://www.roh.org.uk/support/membership) so you will get access to pre-sale tickets. But well, the investment even if it’s for one time only, it’s absolutely worth it.

   

Last night was the turn for Le Nozze di Figaro, one of Mozart’s Italian operas. It helped me to read the story beforehand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marriage_of_Figaro) as even if there is a screen that summarises in English the dialogue that the actors sing, it’s good to be able to just concentrate and enjoy the music. The whole experience of the Opera is quite mind blowing, even if you’re knowledge –as mine – is quite limited, as not only the actors can sing but also the production is quite stunning.

 

To top up the visit to the Opera you can make any bookings on the restaurants and/or bars before your visit (http://www.roh.org.uk/visit/restaurants-and-bars) or just arrive early to enjoy a glass of champagne at the Amphitheatre bar where you don’t need to book. Also check how long the interval would be as you may like to book food and drinks for then, and avoid the hassle of queuing between the acts.

 

DETAILS:

Royal Opera House - http://www.roh.org.uk/ - Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD