Intermezzo

L'elisir d'amore - Royal Opera House

L'elisir d'amore - Royal Opera House, 13 November 2012 (first night)

This gently remodelled and reverentially paced revival of Laurent Pelly's 2007 production is not a vintage night at the opera. Slightly corked more like.

Pelly's cosy Cath Kidston faux-50s perspective is not a patch on Jonathan Miller's edgier ENO production for wit, warmth and vitality. And what Pelly hasn't sucked out, Bruno Campanella's connoisseurly savouring of every last note drained down to the dregs. Luckily, this is the best cast it's had so far, and the superb individual performances make it a show worth seeing.

L’elisir for less

You wait all year for a Royal Opera House discount offer and then two come along at once.

Stalls tickets for L'elisir d'amore are still not cheap, but at least they're down to £85 (usually £164-175).

For performances on 23 and 28 November use the promo code esdamore or call the box office on 0207 304 4000 and quote ‘Eve Standard L’elisir offer’.

For the 4 and 7 December shows, use the promo code metrolelisir.

Thanks to readers Nick and Richard for the tip.

Rolando Villazon goes West

Here's a German TV feature on the Rolando Villazon-directed L'Elisir d'Amore, which opens at the Festspielhaus Baden Baden on Monday. Horses, it seems, are this year's thing.

Papering the house

Thanks to readers Nick and Jamie for spotting the latest ENO discounts. 

Via Moneysavingexpert.com (scroll down to find the deal), tickets for The Elixir of Love are £10-£15 (Upper Circle) or £20 (rear Dress Circle) - and because they're sold via the ENO website, you get to pick your seat.

Meanwhile, it seems the reason you can't find any discounts for The Passenger is that ENO have been reduced to giving the tickets away. With good reason. Having managed to sit through less than an hour of it on opening night before boredom obliged my exit, I would say 'total dud' is polite.

Another ENO Elixir offer

 
Kelkoo Select are offering tickets for ENO's Elixir of Love on 23 and 25 September for £25 (Dress Circle) or £15 (Upper Circle).

As with the similarly-priced lastminute.com offer, you don't get to pick your own seats.

Alternatively, there's Seetickets' more expensive offer  - Upper Circle tickets reduced from £59 to £35. Again you don't get to choose your seat, but it's valid for all dates, and at least you can see what you've been assigned before you pay.

Highly recommended if you're in the mood for something a bit silly.

Discount Elixir

 
Lastminute.com is offering discounted tickets for all performances of ENO's The Elixir of Love.

Dress Circle seats are £25 and Upper Circle £15 - book here.

Be warned that Lastminute.com seats are normally in the back rows.

(Thanks to reader Shyam for the tip-off).