On Saturday 20th, my brother Michael and i had an enjoyable evening at the pretty and intimate Barn Theatre in Oxted, Surrey watching the very talented Aquarian Opera Company perform the much loved opera Carmen. This was the first time i had seen an Opera performed outside of the famous Covent Garden Royal Opera House and was pleasantly surprised.

I was there initially to support our Le Club Lair and RT Robert Burns favourite spinto tenor, the amazing Gari Glaysher, who played a dashing Don Jose and was in fine voice as always. Sitting in the front row i could see all the faces clearly and not only was Gari enjoying himself being all broody and passionate, but all the cast and chorus really put their hearts into the whole production and how they got everyone on the stage is a miracle at times. Catriona Gallo made a feisty Carmen and made us smile many times with her saucy ways. I also enjoyed the scene where the gypsy smugglers were escaping to their mountain hideout and they passed in front of us in a long solemn line to get to the stage, nice to watch them singing away even closer up and bringing the scene into the audience, with other interaction too throughout the performance. I also enjoyed the small orchestra too, Carmen has such a stirring and pasionate score and they played well.

Before the performance i saw Gari and presented him with an Opera Book on four of the most famous Opera Houses, La Scala, The Met, (Gari mentioned he would love to perform there in our interview) Vienna and Covent Garden on behalf of us all, which he graciously thanked us for and said he would read it on his way to Chatsworth House, where Gari will be performing next in Pirates of Penzance, which includes a special Black Tie Gala performance on Saturday the 4th of October in front of The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, that will be really beautiful i am sure.

After the performance we got to speak with Gari again and his wonderful wife Lin and Gari kindly got the whole cast to sign a programme for the special Redux Phantom Of The Opera 2004 film screening and charity dinner by Martha, Susan and the Ladies, in Los Angeles at The Crest Theatre on November 8th, yet another beautiful night to experience.

More about Gari here:

http://www.gariglaysher.com/

Pirates Of Penzance At Chatsworth:

http://www.chatsworth.org/events/penzance.htm

Details about The Barn Theatre can be found here:

http://www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk/

I hope you will all get to see Gari in Concert or in an Opera/Show at some point in time, he is a pleasure to watch and a joy to listen to.

Love Rose

Amy

Gari is such a talented singer and I was so happy you were able to see him live in concert. I am sure it a memory you will not soon forget.

I know many grand things are yet to come for Gari and rightfully so.

Hugs

Alexandria

Love, Kathy

Love,
Amy