I'm talking about that great stone building on the corner of Kärntner (I don't have a German keyboard, it wasn't easy to get those damned dots above the a) Strasse and Opern Ring; the Vienna State Opera House. I have been there a few times. It's an amazing place to be, in particular when you have a ticket for the standing places at the uppermost level.
The Vienna State Opera is performing every night, alternating between 3-4 different operas. You know, the great tenors and soprano prima donnas can't sing two nights in a row. Their voices need rest and care, of course. Every day they're shipping the entire scenery for tonight’s opera performance in from storage outside the city, on big trucks.
I've always bought a ticket for the standing places. It's cheap; costs only 2 Euro (about $3), and it's fair; there's no pre-booking, and you can only buy one ticket. If you want to buy a second one (for your partner), you have to go back to the start of the queue. It's about the only queue I enjoy being in, with lots of weird people, from old jews to young cute goth girls.
I usually prefer Italian operas; by Verdi, Rossini, Puccini and Donizetti. Here is one of my favorites; Nei giardin del bello from Don Carlos by Verdi. This aria is written for the mezzo soprano voice, the finest opera voice in my opinion:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyyA77d2Rio
It sounds amazing. Hard to believe they bring everything in and out for each performance. This past weekend, we went to see, not the opera, but a Cirque de Soleil show called Ka. That is the most amazing show I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteHelen
Straight From Hel
Checked out Cirque the Soleil at YouTube, dadn't seen it before. Cool show, no wonder you enjoyed it, Helen
ReplyDeleteI've been there once. Didn't understand a word but the costumes and atmosphere were great.
ReplyDeleteSteamy Darcy
You're not supposed to understand a word, Enid, unless you're Italian. The singers don't want the operas to be translated, since the music and the libretto is written to fit together. It's no good for a soprano to sing sounds like G and K and Z on the high C.
ReplyDeleteNow the Vienna State Opera (and other operas) even provides translations in subtiles, one little screen in front of every seat. You can choose between English, German, French and Italian >:)