It’s been a while since I’ve been to a regular Opera Revue show and they were playing my favourite of their regular venues; Castro’s yesterday.  Also, besides the usual gang of Alex Hajek, Dani Friesen and Claire Harris there was Alex Hetherington, so I went.  I had a great time.  It was classic Operas Revue; some arias, some music theatre, Kurt Weill and a couple of parodies.  And Alex H.  Boy does she sound loud in a small space like Castro’s!  Plus this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear her sing the Countess from Marriage of Figaro (which will surely lead to expulsion from the Mezzos Guild).

I think Castro’s on a sunny Sunday afternoon is the perfect way to catch Opera Revue.  The space is the right size and shape (i.e,. doesn’t feel like a railway tunnel).  It’s a bar not a theatre.  There’s natural light.  And, above all, they have decent beer.  If you haven’t tried opera in a pub maybe you should.  I recommend it.

Photo credits: Dorothea Unwin and Alex Hajek