“Good tidings we bring to you and your kin”
Rather appropriate for this time of year; I bring some good tidings to all those living in Mannheim that struggle with the German language. The theatre has two productions at present using English Surtitles: Beethoven’s Fidelio and Weill’s Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny (The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny). Both are masterpieces in their own right: with sublime music and complex, intriguing and captivating plots. With a little background reading beforehand, and the addition of the English Surtitles, one can now feel fully involved in the drama even when one does not speak German fluently.
For all those who have not yet ventured to the opera, Mannheim has some incredible productions on offer over the Christmas festive period, and the two forenamed German works are among the best. So newcomers to the theatre can feel fully relaxed during a visit, I have thought of 5 questions you may have and hopefully 5 useful answer.