What do you think of the show?
KOH-zah neh PEN-sah del-loh spet-TA-koh-loh.
During or after the interval, as a conversation opener with a neighbouring audience member. Italians love discussing a performance in progress and are forthright in their opinions.
Cosa ne pensa means what do you think of it (literally 'what of it do you think'). Ne is a partitive pronoun referring back to 'dello spettacolo'. This formal version uses pensa (lei form). The informal version is 'cosa ne pensi' (using tu).
Le sta piacendo?
Are you enjoying it?
Formal: are you liking it (to you is it pleasing).
È la prima volta che viene all'opera?
Is it your first time at the opera?
Good conversation opener with a fellow audience member.
Come trova la produzione rispetto all'originale?
How do you find the production compared to the original?
For comparing to a previous production or a recording.
Italian opera lovers are passionate commentators and will freely share strong opinions during intervals. The debate between 'traditionalist' (filologico) and 'modernist' (regietheater) opera productions is one of the great ongoing arguments in Italian opera circles.