OPERA GUIDE

Every major city in Europe has its own opera house, including Berlin, Munich, Baden-Baden, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Hamburg, Cologne and Bayreuth. Few operas are in English, but it’s easy to follow along with the story if you read the plot outline or the full libretto (script) in advance. Most operas are in Italian but there are almost always subtitles in the native language of the company you’re visiting, and sometimes in English as well. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s hard to understand the words - the beauty of opera is in the singing anyway, and even if the smaller details escape you, it’s quite impossible not to enjoy the opera, no matter what language it's in. See below for opera houses near you - this truly is an experience you won't forget.

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ALTE OPER

FRANKFURT, GERMANY | Frankfurt's Alte Oper has been a cultural and city landmark and a favourite venue for touring ballets, opera companies and contemporary artists.

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BAVARIAN STATE BALLET

MUNICH, GERMANY | The Bavarian State Ballet shares a stage with the Bavarian State Opera, and is world-renowned for a diverse and artistically significant repertoire of masterpieces that that includes Swan Lake, Giselle, and Sleeping Beauty.

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BAVARIAN STATE OPERA

MUNICH, GERMANY | The 2010/2011 schedule includes Beethoven's Fidelio, Tschaikowsky's Sleeping Beauty, Richard Wagner's Lohengrin, Carmen and Puccini's exquisite Madame Butterfly.

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BERLIN STATE OPERA

BERLIN, GERMANY | Located on the Unter den Linden in the heart of Berlin, the Berlin State Opera is one of Germany's premier opera companies, with a rich history (the original building was commissioned in 1741) and a program that will delight connoisseurs as well as the curious.

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DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN

BERLIN, GERMANY | Over the summer, you can experience famous opera classics such as Othello, Arabella, The Barber of Seville, Carmen and La Boheme.

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FESTSPIELHAUS BADEN-BADEN

BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY | Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is the city's world-famous opera and concert hall which also bears the unique distinction of being Germany's largest.

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GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA HOUSE

GLYNDEBOURNE, ENGLAND | If you're comfortable in black tie and evening attire, make your way to the annual Glyndebourne Festival - and don't worry too much about the weather, performances are staged in a world-class opera house.

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MOULIN ROUGE

PARIS, FRANCE | Best known as the spiritual birthplace of the can-can and the original striptease, the Moulin Rouge today is a Paris cultural landmark, its romantic turn-of-the-century decor perfectly preserved.

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PLZEN OPERA

PLZEN, CZECH REPUBLIC | The Tyl Theater is the most important cultural landmarks in Plzen, an up and coming city just 60 - 90 minutes drive from most U.S. military installations in Bavaria.

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PRAGUE STATE OPERA

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC | The Prague State Opera is a landmark in this chic and fabulous city, and if you're visiting Prague on a Four Day Weekend, one of the most memorable things you could possibly include in your itinerary would be a performance at this opera house

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STUTTGART STATE OPERA

STUTTGART, GERMANY | One of Europe's leading opera houses and part of the Stuttgart State Theater, the Stuttgart State Opera has an average season audience of 250,000 people, with over 1,400 seats usually sold out well in advance of each performance.

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TEATRO ALLA SCALA MILAN

MILAN, ITALY | Teatro Alla Scala is Milan's most prestigious opera house, presenting a packed annual calendar of operas, ballets, concerts, recitals, cinematic events and cultural festivals.

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TEATRO DI SAN CARLO

NAPLES, ITALY | If you're stationed in Italy, an evening performance and a glass of champagne at this breathtaking opera house in Naples must not be missed.