Attending a concert, play, opera, ballet…

We asked any of you who attended a concert, a recital or any music or dance performance or stage production outside of the US in the last couple of years to tell us how you learned about it and how you obtained tickets. Touching on events in Norway, Russia and Ukraine, here are the responses comprising part five in this ongoing series.

While finalizing plans for a trip to Finland and Norway in February ’11, I checked online to see what was playing at the Oslo Nye Teater (Rosenkrantz gate 10 0159 Oslo, Norway; phone 22 34 86 00, fax 22 34 86 01, e-mail oslonye@oslonye.no [website not in English]), since my 2-week journey would end in OSLO. I was delighted to discover that the Mel Brooks musical “The Producers” was scheduled.

Having seen the production seven times in the US, I felt the language barrier wouldn’t be a big problem. I also was curious to see if there would be any differences in the show and what the audience reaction would be to the distinctive Brooks style of humor.

I didn’t attempt to order tickets online. Once I checked into my hotel (the Clarion Collection Hotel Savoy, which, by the way, offers free morning and evening buffets), I walked the couple of blocks to the Nye’s box office and, luckily, was able to buy a third-row seat for that evening’s performance. The ticket stub showed a price of 530 kroner, and my credit card statement later showed I was billed a bit under $95.

The show wound up being one of my favorite productions of the play. The lead performers were spot on with their energetically comedic interpretations of their roles, and the audience’s reaction was as boisterous as any I had encountered previously — and often a bit rowdier.

A couple of dozen extra touches were added to the Norwegian production, ranging from sight gags to hilarious anatomically correct furnishings in the home of the play’s most flamboyant character, none of which appeared in the American versions I attended.

It was a great experience, and I will definitely seek out other productions of favorite plays in future foreign travels.

An additional observation — when I received my ticket, it was obvious what my row and seat numbers were, but I didn’t understand what an additional notation of “433” meant. As I sat in the lobby prior to the show, I figured it out.

There were several large coat-check rooms adjacent to the theater lobby, and I observed people examining their tickets prior to entering one of the rooms. “433” was my designated hook number for my coat. Usually, a hook is not a good thing at theater performances, but this one worked like a charm.

Marcia Opal
Algonquin, IL

I was aboard the Prinsendam when it stopped in ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, for two days in June-July 2011. Before the cruise, I went to the website of Holland America Line (Seattle, WA; 877/932-4259) and booked tickets for two for the ballet excursion on July 3. They cost $99 each and included a ride to the theater and back on a very nice bus.

Online, it did not specify the name of the ballet for that night. I found out at the excursions desk on the ship that it was “Swan Lake.” Some of my fellow passengers also had booked ahead, and others booked once aboard ship.

What a wonderful performance! Even though the theater was very large, it was crowded. The seats were arranged so that almost everyone had a good view of the stage.

The performance was slightly over two hours long and there was an intermission that was rather chaotic, as there was only one bartender serving wine and champagne. There was no line, people just gathered around, and there was not enough time for everyone to be served. But this was a minor glitch in an otherwise wonderful evening.

The audience was very attentive and gave the company a standing ovation.

If you are taking this cruise and wish to attend the ballet and concerts in St. Petersburg, to make sure you get a ticket I suggest booking online ahead of time rather than on the ship. I considered the price reasonable for such a fantastic ballet.

Interestingly, even though we had been through passport control twice already while the ship was docked in St. Petersburg, we had to line up and go through it again heading out to the buses that night and again when we returned after the ballet.

Willie Kate Friar
Lafayette, CO

Prior to a tour of Ukraine and Russia with Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/248-3737), in the last week of September ’11 my husband, Frank, and I had a pre-trip in KIEV for four days. A number of fellow tour members were interested in performances, and our wonderful guide Igor was very accommodating in seeing that we were able to attend everything available.

In Kiev, the theater was a short walk from our hotel, so as soon as we learned that the ballet “Swan Lake” was being performed, we all went over for tickets, which were just about sold out.

Our tickets cost only $6.50 each, and my husband and I ended up in a small box about three or four out from stage left. Each box held six unattached chairs, so we all were able to maneuver for excellent viewing.

The people-to-people experience was an added benefit. The other four in our box were Ukrainian women. They were most welcoming, and we did our best to communicate and be good guests.

We have seen “Swan Lake” several times, including once in Moscow. This production was the best ever. Everything was perfect. I couldn’t read the Ukrainian program, but we were told the lead ballerina was 45 years old and one of the area’s most famous. She looked many years younger and danced beautifully. The costumes were elegant and the theater, beautiful. We have wonderful memories of that evening.

Linda Besnette
Sedona, AZ

My wife and I, under the auspices of Odysseys Unlimited (Newton, MA; 888/370-6765), joined a Black Sea cruise from Istanbul to Athens on Swan Hellenic’s Minerva II in October ’04. We were among a group of 62 Americans traveling with more than 500 British subjects plus distinguished lecturers, all of whom were marking the 150th anniversary of the Crimean War.

We arrived in ODESSA, Ukraine, on a Saturday, and my wife and I chose to attend a performance of “The Barber of Seville” arranged solely for the passengers and crew of the Minerva II and staged at the Ukrainian Drama Theatre (the Opera House was being renovated).

The orchestra and chorus of the Odessa State Academic Theater of Opera & Ballet (Tchaikovsry str. 1, Odessa, Ukraine; phone 780 15 09 or 780 15 28) supported an excellent cast.

The lights dimmed shortly after we took our seats, and the opera began. At the conclusion of Act One, Scene One, the curtain closed and the lights came up. A spokesperson on stage then announced that one of the buses from the ship had arrived late and Act One, Scene One would be repeated in its entirety. We later learned that the late bus contained the captain and officers of the Minerva II.

We are ardent theatergoers and, in some years, have attended as many as 30 dramas and musicals. Never had we, nor have we since, experienced the repeat of a scene for any reason.

It was our opinion that the repeat performance of Act One, Scene One was even better than the first. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire performance and appreciated and wondered at the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Odessa state opera in making sure that all attendees got their money’s worth.

Daniel F. Crough
Media, PA