Opera – again – some of my readers might say. I have received comments here on my blog and also on CDH, from sisters that apparently do not like operas. And I fully understand that one might not like operas. I have seen operas I did not like. But I have also very much been surprised and inspired by operas.
In general, I enjoy the drama of operas, their language(s) and poetry, the impressive skills and professionalism of the actors and musicians, and the artistic complexity that many of them display. I also like the historical and cultural significance and heritage of this classical art form.
But I also understand the reasons for which people dislike operas, such as their length, old-fashioned context, vocal style, and foreign languages, often requiring preparation and pre-reading, or their pace and complexity, or their high cost in terms of ticket price and limited accessibility, requiring travel and accomodation. Moreover, operas may be perceived as exclusive and elitist.
Tell me what you like or dislike about operas!
Anyway, after this already exciting day out-and-about, high culture was in order. And high culture calls for what: haute couture (sort of). And that simply is another reason for Franzi to pick such evening entertainment offerings over beer and potato chips at home on the couch. And I am fortunate to have not only Frankfurt's cultural offering but of two state capitals, Wiesbaden and Mainz, in close proximity.
You might also wonder why I did not keep wearing the newly styled wig from earlier this day. That is because there were other plans for this wig – wink, wink – relating to a change in location.
On the way to the opera, in style, using an e-scooter.
Walking about the opera house, soaking up the atmosphere.
The opera house in Frankfurt – not “Alte Oper” (Old Opera House), which is used more for concerts and musical performances – has been elected “Opera House of the Year” in Germany in 2024, 2023, and 2022.
As that night’s opera “Le Postillon de Lonjumeau“ was performed in its original language, in French, I made sure to be early enough for the introduction, which is always held in the “Atrium” about 30 minutes before the start. This Opéra-comique from Adolphe Adam, by the way, had its world premiere on October 13, 1836 in Paris.
The atrium during introduction
Intermission, time to recover and to relax.
And as a proven measure to finish off a fine day out-and-about and an evening at the opera, Franzi visited a wine bar. No surprise to my regular readers.
I hadn’t been to this one close to Schweizer Platz in Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen (that is the suburb of Frankfurt south of the river Main) in a while. It was very relaxed and stylish with its previous owner, but nowadays seems to focus on customers with a much higher tolerance against noise – to pick just one argument why I do not to go there more regularly.
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