Last Night At The Opera, 2012-2013 Season

**JonathanB** · 6th April 13, 12:53 AM

I was looking around the auditorium of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden earlier this week (Nabucco - the prima donna was amazing and the big chorus very beautiful) and checking out the men's wear. Probably only half the men were wearing ties: otherwise business suits were the most formal male attire. At one point I could see at least two men in jeans (and nothing the matter with that as long as they are worn with style.) There are an awful lot of corporate seats and a lot of men attending after the office.

No kilts, but I'll see what I can do.

**grizzbass** · 9th April 13, 11:44 AM

I have been able to wear my kilt several times on stage while doing an opera or recital. It would be nice to see the audience properly attired.

**JonathanB** · 9th April 13, 01:18 PM

Lucia di Lammermoor? La donna del largo? Ariodante? (Can't think of any other operas set in Scotland.)

**TheOfficialBren** · 9th April 13, 01:33 PM

I can't think of any others set in Scotland, either.

I have never attended an opera but would certainly dress appropriately. No jeans for me at such a soire.

DyerStraits, you look AWESOME in your photo. You are always so stylish, sir. I give you full props.

Slainte!!

**McClef** · 9th April 13, 01:35 PM

Perhaps Brigadoon could be done operatically?

**grizzbass** · 9th April 13, 05:37 PM

That does account for all the standards except Macbeth which I have sung several times although I didn't wear my klt that times as Banquo isn't a Mackenzie. I did Brigadoon for Utah festival opera but again didn't wear my own as it didn't fit. The other times I kilted on stage was an updated staging of La Traviata as the baron and I have done several Die Fledermaus where it was also updated. I talked them into Falke being a kilted. As a recitalist I get to choose my attire so that is always kilted.

**artificer** · 9th April 13, 05:52 PM

Well turned out, sir! The jacket and waistcoat are particularly lovely (as noted earlier), especially with the flash of purple in the tie.

ith:

**JonathanB** · 10th April 13, 06:30 AM

Macbetto. How could I possibly forget.

**DyerStraits** · 10th April 13, 05:10 PM

Many Thanks for the compliments!

I have always been fond of lapelled vests and I do think they somehow look
uniquely smart with a kilt. I must admit however that my inspiration for this ensemble is none other than the "other" Prince Charlie (bless his dandy soul) to wit:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2PJ-ypKCQp...arles_Kilt.jpg

http://www.hellomagazine.com/imagene...02/charles.jpg

Wish I could afford a tailor.....

Picking and choosing what events to kilt up for is, of course, an art unto itself. Between my "dressy" kilts, my "pub" kilts and my "utility" and hiking kilts, I actually have quite a few bases covered, and I also regularly wear a kilt to the office, for dining out, tinkering in my bicycle shop, walking the dog, golfing, antiquing, etc.

GG · 11th April 13, 09:48 PM

I think you see it everywhere: men going to opera performances and classical concerts are no longer dressed up as they were ten or twenty years ago.
When I go to an opera in a kilt I’ll wear it with an Argyle jacket and a tie (approx.90%), like on the picture below. It is taken in September 2010 in my hotel room in Düsseldorf just before going to the opera house (La Boheme).

Roughly calculated I must have been wearing a kilt at least 10 times to opera houses in Cologne, Dusseldorf and Copenhagen.
I have never been to Covent Garden but should like to.

A couple of months ago my wife and I were to an opera in Copenhagen. I was not kilted but when we after the performance were leaving the building we actually saw a man in a kilt and fully dressed up with a Prince Charlie, ghillie brogues and a hat with a feather plume.