Veranstaltungenthe Grand conseil DU VIN DE BORDEAUXCommanderIES, WINE brotherhoodS

What a wonderful evening to begin the Christmas Season!

The Opera and Dinner at the Northern Royal College of Music (RNCM) now has virtually a decade of success under its belt and has earned its place as one of the most fun evenings in the calendar! This year it exceeded all expectations and we were treated to excellent food, delightful wine and a fantastically jolly and entertaining Opera.

We gathered informally in our private dining room and were soon tucking into a very tasty salmon dish. This was well matched with that traditional Semillon dominated favorite of Les Trois Hectares Blanc from Chateau Bauduc 2021.

We were also kindly introduced to Opera and the RNCM by its Director of Development – Rhiannon McKay-Smith. We were fascinated to learn the short rehearsal times and that over one hundred students participated in both the orchestra and on stage. Other students also served us attentively and professionally.

We then enjoyed the main course of cannon of Lamb with George de Chateau Puygueraud 2016, from Francs Cote de Bordeaux, which was pleasant and full of fruit, with delicate notes of cedar. We then headed to the first act of the main event – the opera L’Etoile by Chabrier.

It is very difficult to describe this Opera, but a riotous combination of Gilbert and Sullivan and an Adult Pantomime would be a start; perhaps, with some Shakspearian misidentifications thrown in for good measure. The singing and music were of the highest. It was all deliciously bonkers and uplifting.

We managed to have a very pleasant dessert of White Forest Roulade in the interval. This course was accompanied by the outstanding L’Ouest de Lamothe Guignard Sauternes 2010.