Seven Ovations and a pair of Stilettos.

There's no doubt about it, The classical music scene in Montpellier is inclusive. But classical music isn't always like that. I well remember a trip to the opera house in Hanover, when I was working as a young teacher in Germany. At the interval we stood aside, while a large number of elegant ladies paraded up and down the promenade area in their fine gowns, fur stoles, and stiletto heeled shoes, on the arms of smartly suited men. I thought of this last night, as we visited the beautiful Corum Concert Hall in Montpellier to listen to a concert. Like most people there I dressed casually , as did B. But then, in Montpellier's world of classical music , everyone dresses as they wish . There are no rules. I saw one elegant lady who was wearing a beautiful black, velvet dress. If I did feel a slight inkling of jealousy, this was dispelled as we joined the crowds to leave. We passed this very same person, but she as now progressing extremely slowly, hobbling along on the most uncomfortable looking pair of high, pointed stiletto shoes. No thank you! Of course, it isn't only dress that can make people feel excluded. To attend the opera in some countries can cost a fortune. A top ticket at the opera house in Paris will cost €200 and at La Scala in Milan one can pay €300 for a prime seat. But then there are much cheaper seats/standing room available . As a schoolgirl I thought nothing of climbing all the way up to "the Gods" at Newcastle Theatre Royal. This enabled me to enjoy a matinée performance of Sir Laurence Olivier in Othello for the small price of 'half a crown.' I suspect I was 'bunking off ' my English lessons, but then who was to say which of these experiences would have been more formative!

The Opera House in Montpellier is smaller than the Paris Opéra Garnier, but it was modelled on this very same building in the nineteenth century. It has a similar sweep of wide marble staircases which lead up to the higher levels, and the walls are decorated with beautiful frescoes and gilding. To visit the opera there is such a wonderful experience, but in Montpellier this need not cost 'an arm and a leg.' The most expensive seats of all in the stalls cost €70/80 while a child can occupy the same seats for €15. There are reductions for the unemployed. Our operas are top class, sometimes joint productions with other European opera houses. The 2024 Montpellier performance of La Bohême is currently being streamed on 'Opéra Directe.

But ,last night we were to enjoy an orchestral concert at 'The Corum' where the modern sixties built building affords spacious comfortable seating, and excellent acoustics. For an evening of Tchaikovsky and Ravel , our tickets in one of the many comfortable loges(or boxes) for four, cost only €30 each. A child costs €10. It is clear that classical music in Montpellier is indeed inclusive.

And, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, Montpellier has welcomed a new chief conductor to the fold. His name is Rodney Cox. As if to prove that he is proving popular, last night he received no fewer than seven ovations before we would let him leave the stage.And when he tried to get the orchestra members to take their bows, they refused to stand up and gave him an ovation with their feet too...a sure sign that they appreciate their new 'boss.' And as for the music, it was sublime; from the beautiful ,yet sad 'Pavanne pour un Enfant Défunct' by Ravel to Tchaikowsky's Fourth Symphony. This latter work ended with such a long flourish, I reckon both the conductor and orchestra members must have expended so much energy, that it took quite some time for them all to recover. Bravo!