OPERA–THE SUN LOVES IT! Via Ratty, a Guardian article on the Sun‘s promotion of the tabloid nature of opera; and a comments thread in which readers compete to summarize operas in Sun-style:

DAD LEFT DAUGHTER HOME ALONE IN FIREPLACE
(Die Walkure)

CANOE BLOKE DISAPPEARS AGAIN
(Peter Grimes)

HE SHAGGED MY BIRD!
(Ariodante)

HE SHAGGED MY BIRD!
(Tristan & Isolde)

POLISH IMMIGRANT IN ROYAL ID-THEFT
(Un Giorno di Regno)

BANGED-UP LEFTY TRAITOR’S CROSS-DRESSING LOVER
(Fidelio)

FLOODING – WORSE TO COME
(Goetterdamerung)

(Unfortunately, the summary for Jenufa is weak, even though–as one reader notes–the plot has more than a whiff of EastEnders.)

Best lines from the original Sun piece, showcasing its new opera-tickets deal (“Hear a tenor for less than a tenner!”):

Elitist broadsheet The Guardian wrote an article last week sneering at the fact that lowly Sun readers should dare to grace the Royal Opera House.

Blow them. They can have a night in with their mung bean sandwiches and discuss existentialist feminism. We’ll be down the opera having a knees-up.

more!