Next, we saw the plush interior of the hall where the audience sits. \u00a0It was much smaller than I had imagined for such a famous place. \u00a0There were over two thousand seats, but they went high up rather than far back, so everyone has a sense of sitting relatively close to the stage. \u00a0We also visited the most exclusive first tier boxes.\u00a0 This is where Emperor Franz Joseph\u2019s private box used to be.\u00a0 And behind it is his Imperial Tea Room where he would retreat and entertain during the intermissions. \u00a0There is often more than one intermission in operas. \u00a0Frau Bilger was for some reason very taken with this room.\u00a0 It was extravagant for sure, but not nearly as interesting as backstage in my humble opinion.\u00a0 That is where the true action happens!\u00a0 I think she likes the idea of a beautiful tea room of one\u2019s own, which I cannot possibly understand.\u00a0 I would rather have a practice room of my own.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n The opera house, interestingly enough, is not just for the rich and famous in Vienna to enjoy.\u00a0 The cheapest tickets are only \u20ac3, which is about five dollars.\u00a0 They are for standing room at the very tippy-top.\u00a0 One must not be prone to vertigo (definition: a sensation of whirling or dizziness) if one is going to purchase those tickets.\u00a0 The next most affordable tickets\u00a0are the 5-Euro standing room tickets, and those are on the orchestra level with very good sight-lines.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em>I have already decided I will make it a point to revisit Wien during the opera season so that I may attend \u2013 most likely in standing room. \u00a0In the meantime, I shall have to \u201cget my opera fix\u201d as Frau Bilger says, with recordings.\u00a0 Speaking of recordings, I have discovered a recording of the Vienna Philharmonic playing <\/em>G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung.\u00a0\u00a0I post here now, my very favorite part:<\/em><\/p>\n The Short Call<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For those of you just joining our story, Corzoo is a feisty, precocious, curious little fellow, who happens to be a kazoo that is shaped like a French horn. \u00a0He longs to be a REAL French horn player one day … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.angelashornstudio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/WienerStaatsoperOutside.jpeg\" "\\"Wiener")
The Wiener Staatsoper (The Vienna State Opera) is one of the premier opera houses in the world. \u00a0It is such a popular destination that there are tours in at least five languages that take place every hour!\u00a0 Frau Bilger and I sat in the lobby and observed everyone\u2019s excited behavior in anticipation of the tour.\u00a0 Silly folks, young and old, were delighted with the grand opera costumes set up in the lobby that had face holes for snapping pictures to make it look like the person is wearing the costumes. \u00a0Of course, I had no interest in such shenanigans. \u00a0It helped to pass the time, though!<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.angelashornstudio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/WienerStaatsoperLobby-300x199.jpg\" "\\"Wiener")
The opera house opened in 1869 with a performance of Mozart\u2019s <\/em>Don Giovanni<\/span>. \u00a0The lobby is beautifully opulent (definition: ostentatiously rich or lavish) and is one of the areas of the original<\/em> opera house.\u00a0 The main part of the house where the audience sits, as well as all of the stage and backstage were damaged by bombs in World War II.\u00a0 It took about ten years for the opera house to be repaired and reopen.\u00a0 The last opera to be performed before<\/em> the bombs fell was Wagner\u2019s <\/em>G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung (translation: <\/em><\/span>The Twilight of the Gods).<\/em><\/span> It reopened with Beethoven\u2019s <\/em>Fidelio.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.angelashornstudio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/WienSOperBackstage-300x225.jpg\" "\\"Wiener")
We went first backstage, which is three times the size of the area where the audience sits!\u00a0 Sets may be pre-assembled far backstage, underneath the stage, or even above the stage to later be moved into the scene taking place.\u00a0 There were no sets assembled because the opera season has not yet started; however, I believe there must be rehearsals starting somewhere because one lone baritone walked across the stage and let out a big, lusty vocal warm-up as he headed quickly to his destination somewhere in the bowels of the theater.\u00a0 I called after him from Frau Bilger\u2019s bag with my Siegfried call and I was suddenly zipped inside – but not before I saw him look back with a look of amused surprise.\u00a0 \u201cAh! A young musician in the tour, eh? Sehr gut, sehr gut!\u201d\u00a0 I was proud of myself for being so bold. \u00a0They do have children’s operas. \u00a0I shall have to see if there might be an occasion one day for me to take an audition for something like this. \u00a0 It’s always good to have ideas tucked away in the back of one\u2019s mind.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.angelashornstudio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/ViennaOperaBall-300x146.jpg\" "\\"Vienna")
There is, however, plenty of opportunity to part with one\u2019s money in enjoyment of the opera if one so chooses.\u00a0 For instance, there is the Wiener Opernball (The Vienna Opera Ball), which happens yearly.\u00a0 It is perhaps the grandest of balls in the world and showcases the orchestra, the singers, the choruses, and the dancers. \u00a0A children\u2019s ballet is a traditional part of the exhibition before the dancing starts. \u00a0If a couple wants to be a part of the first dance, which of course is the <\/em>Blue Danube by Johann Strauss (he is known as Der Walzerk\u00f6nig – the King\u00a0of the Waltz) they must go through a strenuous audition process, and the top couples have the honor of dancing.\u00a0 Then everyone is invited out on the floor to dance the evening away. \u00a0It is an Event (with a Very Capital “E”) and full of over 100 years of tradition. <\/em><\/p>\n
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