On a cold and wet December evening, Members of the Commanderie , their partners and valued guests, assembled at the Royal Northern College of Music for the fourth annual dinner and opera visit.
We were welcomed with glasses of The Wine Society Celebration Cremant de Loire 2016 which proved an excellent introduction to the evening. Our first course was a ballotine of Scottish Salmon, sour cream, cucumber garnish, crisp herb salad and burnt Sicilian lemon. This was well presented and matched very well with the Chateau Ricaud Blanc 2018 Bordeaux from the Loupiac area. This was most enjoyed with its 50% Semillon, 50% Suavignon Blanc giving a fairly rounded fuller body than normal, with plenty of fresh fruit. Some members even opted to have this wine with the dessert rather than the Sauternes.
The Main Course was a delicious pan fried duck breast with a fondant potato, root vegetable puree, green bean parcel and cherry jus. This proved a popular dish and was ably accompanied by the Chateau Citran 2010 A.O.C. Haut Medoc which was drinking well and showing good fruit and the class of the vintage.
It was soon time to take our seats for the opera ‘Dialogues des Carmelites’ by Francis Poulenc originally premiered in 1957. We were all immediately impressed by the set when the curtain was raised. The story was set in a time of political turmoil in France and the unsettling menace in the background was present throughout in the music played so well by the RNCM Opera Orchestra and libretto brilliantly sung by all the cast.
At the first interval we returned to the Carole Nash room for our sweet, a ‘Trio Berry amour’ accompanied by a welcome glass of Chateau de Rayne Vigneaux 2009 1er Cru Classe A.O.C. Sauternes which was drinking well.
By the end of the evening everybody realised they had experienced a landmark performance of a great 20th Century Opera and congratulations to all the Singers, Musicians and Production Team. Truly an evening to remember, although many thought that perhaps the opera was a little sombre for the Christmas season.