Opera Tickets turned out to be "interesting"; what to do about it?

[Kellanved]

Poll question: Opera Tickets turned out to be "interesting"; what to do about it?

I've got a little problem: after staying away from Berlin's cultural life for a few months, I had decided to go to the Opera again.
The Mozart Opera "Entführung aus dem Serail" seemed a good pick: short, simple and quite good - and student tickets still available, a huge bonus, if you get my drift. The location "Komische Oper" (comical Opera House) did not stop me: it is known for unconventional, but good stagings.

Well, and now this: the piece premiered during the weekend, drawing fire from the press (as well as some grudging, but positive reviews). It is described as two hours of nudity, sex and violence; Presented with a quite acceptable singer's performance. I have no problems with nudity, but violence?

So far several German companies have stopped their funding of the Opera House, in an almost unprecedented act of corporate censorship.
One rather poor Review, but it is the only English one I could find:
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373183366

An added twist is that I had not planned on going alone: The company would consist of a friend (female, yes...) and a first-time visitor to Berlin - you might have guessed it: he is American (not that the fact changes anything).

[Rowdyboy]

1. The review makes it sound rather disgusting

It all depends on what you hope to get from the evening. I would not buy tickets, but if someone offered to take me as their guest, I'd probably go.

Can you money be refunded?

[Kellanved]

2. I don't know if it can be refunded

But I'm pretty sure that I could sell the tickets.
They were not very expensive to start with, so that's really just a minor issue.

The review in the FT was very one-sided; a few very repected critics wrote good (at least not totally bad) things about the performance. However, at the moment I think I'll just get tickets for something else.

[Rowdyboy]

3. I'd never trust just one review....

But you know your guest-would she enjoy it?

[Kellanved]

7. I fear not

She is almost - well - conservative. Not on moral issues, just on economic, but well :shrug:. Knows a lot more about Operas than I do, though.

As to the visitor (American, but at the moment from London): I'm almost certain that he would enjoy it; I'm just not sure if I want to be the one bringing him there.

[stopbush]

4. I happen to be one who tends to like Eurotrash opera productions.

They tend to put the shock back into these pieces. Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Verdi...these guys were revolutionaries in their time. The music will always be the same - and great - and a well-thought-out updating can be a revelation.

BTW - check out the Stuttgart production of Wagner's Ring, either in Stuttgart or on Naxos/TDK DVDs. The whole thing is amazing in its depth, perversion and marvel.

[Misunderestimator]

5. That was rhetorical, right?

How could you NOT want to go. :shrug: Just go. And (The Abduction from the Seraglio) IS a beautiful opera, and fun. And it makes COMPLETE sense that THAT opera should have a lot of nudity. What the heck was a harem FOR after all? Bravo to them for doing it!!

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[supernova]

6. I didn't know Mozart wrote

a nudie musical. :crazy: The things I learn on DU.

But, really what would you expect the Financial Times to say? I'm sure they think Marry Poppins is somehow obscene.

As for your question, I might go myself, but without knowing my guests really well, I'd sell them and go for something else.

edit: tickets.... I'd sell the tickets. Damn English syntax.