Forget a Night at the Opera. The Komische Oper Festival is a whole week of it.

At the end of the Operatic season, the Komische Oper puts on a week-long spectacle of all their new productions from that season. Komische Oper Festival runs from the 11th-16th July and is both a highlight of Opera lovers’ calendars, and also the perfect time to experience opera for the first time. Along with the shows themselves, there are also pre- and post-performance introductions and discussions to give background into the source material and insight into how some of opera’s biggest names bring the shows come to life. All you need to form a life-long love of costumed people singing loudly in a language you don’t understand. There’s also a special culinary programme to match each performance, which is just splendid.

Berlin’s Komische Oper has been continually reinventing the notion of opera, opening classic works to new audiences with modern humour, design and flair. And by that I don’t mean everyone raps instead of singing, but watch the above video to see their productions are a far, far cry from ‘it doesn’t end till the fat lady sings’. This realisation that the world has changed while 300 year old operas haven’t has led the Komische Oper to open their productions to a modern audience, allowing us to relate to the characters on a deeper level. They even provide screens so you can read the lyrics as they’re sung in your own language.

We have 1×2 tickets to il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) on 13/07 to give away

To win, simply email win@staging-berlinlovesyou.kinsta.cloud with the subject “Komische Oper Festival”. Scroll down for more info.

The Komische Oper Festival – Eine Woche Opernrausch! Programme

These are the performances that will make up the festival. Some have already sold out, so get in there and get your ticket quickly.

Tuesday, 11. July 2017, 19:30 Uhr
Petruschka/L’Enfant et les Sortilèges

18:30 Uhr Introductory talk: “Meister und Mutter – von Abhängigkeiten und deren
Überwindung” (Ulrich Lenz, Chefdramaturg)
After the performance: “Kunst oder Kontrolle? Computer oder Crescendo?” – Discussion with Markus Poschner, Tiago Alexandre Fonseca und Nadja Mchantaf; Moderation: Ulrich Lenz

Wednesday, 12. July 2017, 19:30 Uhr
Die Perlen der Cleopatra

18:30 Uhr Introductory talk: “Total Control – über Perlen, Flöten und Berliner Bier”
(Simon Berger, Dramaturg)
After the performance: “Showtime in Berlin!” – Discussion with Adam Benzwi, Peter Bording und Johannes Dunz; Moderation: Simon Berger

Thursday, 13. July 2017, 19:30 Uhr
Il barbiere di Siviglia

18:30 Uhr Introductory talk: “Vertrauen ist gut, Kontrolle ist besser?” (Johanna Wall, Dramaturgin)
After the performance: “Gibt es sie noch, die guten alte Dinge?” – Discussion with Philipp Meierhöfer und Dominik Köninger; Moderation: Johanna Wall

Get your tickets for the Komische Oper Festival now

Friday, 14. July 2017, 19:30 Uhr
Zoroastre

18:30 Uhr Introductory talk: “Denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun …” (Johanna Wall, Dramaturgin)
After the performance: “Spielbälle der Götter?” – Discussion with Nadja Mchantaf und Christian Curnyn; Moderation: Johanna Wall

Saturday, 15. July 2017, 19:30 Uhr
Medea

18:30 Uhr Introductory talk: “›Fluch dem, der den Gastfreund schlug!‹ – Freiheit als Medeas Widerstand” (Simon Berger, Dramaturg)
After the performance: “Die Zeit der Nacht, der Zauber ist vorbei” – Simon Berger im Discussion with Komponist Aribert Reimann

Sunday, 16. July 2017, 19 Uhr
Der Jahrmarkt von Sorotschinzi

18 Uhr Introductory talk: “Der Teufel geht um! – Kontrolle durch Angst” (Ulrich Lenz, Chefdramaturg)
After the performance: “Kollektive Angst und ihre Profiteure” – Discussion with Hans Gröning, Anita Rodriguez Mendoza und Matthias Spenke; Moderation: Ulrich Lenz

Win tickets to see il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)

Il barbiere di Siviglia is an opera in 2 acts by Gioachino Rossini. It’s a comedy, considered one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music (sorry, Spinal Tap). So much so that even after 200 years people are still laughing. The Komische Oper’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia promises to be the perfect introduction to opera for someone who’s shied away from it in the past. No pomp, just laughs and great music.

If you’d like to win 1×2 tickets to the performance on the 13th July, simply email win@staging-berlinlovesyou.kinsta.cloud with the subject “Komische Oper Festival” and you’ll be entered into the prize draw. We’ll inform the winner (and the losers :( ) on the 9th of July.

Get your tickets for the Komische Oper Festival now

Every day’s a festival with the Komische Oper Abo

Are you an opera regular? You can save a ton of cash by signing up to the Komische Oper Abonnement subscription service. You can save up to 30% off ticket prices.

Komische Oper, Berlin’s Most Progressive Opera House
Komische Oper on Facebook 

Komische Oper Berlin
Behrenstraße 55-57
10117 Berlin

Photos: © Iko Freese/drama-berlin.de and Monika Rittershaus. Written in co-operation with the Komische Oper.