Not only can you hear and feel that only the very best is good enough for our audience here at the Komische Oper - you can also feel it when you take your seat. For the 2009/10 season, we installed new seating which provides you with more leg-room and comfort than before. The best feature of the new seats is their built-in translation system, something which is currently unique amongst German opera houses. Nearly every seat is fitted with a display on which you can choose to view the performance’s accompanying text. In principle, this functions like a common subtitling system, but is in fact much more sophisticated: you can individually select whether to follow the text in German or in English, and can turn off the display if you don't want either. A special masking foil also prevents the displays of the people on either side of you from interfering with your enjoyment of the opera. Does that sound astonishing? That's because it is!
If you should ever not manage to arrive on time for the curtain-up, we will endeavour to grant you late admittance. The decision as to whether and when this will happen lies with the respective stage manager or conductor. We do ask for your understanding regarding the fact that in the event of late arrival, no right exists to late admittance or to access of the booked seats. Our highest priority is to provide performances free from interruptions. Thus late admittance cannot be granted in all instances, but only at selected moments, such as during a scene change or an especially "loud" section of orchestra music etc. As a rule, in the event of a late admittance, our ushers will offer you seats in the second tier.
The Kulturparkplatz (»Car Park for Cultural Events«) is located around 200 metres from the main entrance of the Komische Oper, at the corner of Französische Straße/Glinkastraße. From 6 pm onwards, there is a €3.00 flat-rate fee to park here, no matter how long the performance goes on for. Please be aware that the Kulturparkplatz is not a facility of the Komische Oper Berlin, and that we have no control over any potential lack of access, defective ticket machines etc.
The Komische Oper Berlin has six wheelchair-accessible seats in the 6th and 8th rows on each side in the stalls.
Wheelchair-users can enter the Komische Oper Berlin via the stage entrance, which is located between the opera house and the Hotel Westin Grand. From there, our admittance staff will accompany you into the auditorium/the lower foyer, where you will find the culinary offerings of Lukullus Gastronomie GmbH. Unfortunately, the upper foyer and tiers are currently only accessible via the stairs.
Anyone accompanying a severely disabled person with a disability certification marked B will receive free admission. Severely disabled people receive no concession (more information regarding concessions can be found here).
You are of course permitted to take pictures (before curtain-up and during the interval) of the foyer designed by the architect Hans Braunfels, and our neo-baroque auditorium. You can also purchase small souvenirs at the ticket desk, in the upper foyer, and at the information stall of our sponsoring group Freunde der Komischen Oper Berlin e.V. These include postcards, cups, notebooks, bags etc.
Please be aware, however, that image and sound recordings are fundamentally prohibited during the performance. This is due to reasons of copyright and so that other guests and the performers especially are not disturbed during the performance. If you want to remember the most beautiful moments of our opera performances, we recommend you look in our programme booklets and at the numerous photo galleries on our website.
Refunds on tickets sold are fundamentally excluded. If another work is being performed than the one indicated when the tickets were purchased, a refund is possible before curtain-up. The right to make cast changes is reserved and does not constitute good cause for ticket refunds. Expired tickets will not be refunded. For further details, please see our General Terms and Conditions.
Our guided tours, which as a rule take place at the weekends, provide a vivid and informative glance behind the scenes at the Komische Oper Berlin. We also offer special guided tours on the topics of »make-up«, »costumes«, and »stage design«, which give detailed insights into the work of individual departments within the opera house.
Guided tour… €6.00/€4.00 (up to 16 years of age), 1 hour 15 minutes
Special guided tour… €10.00/€6.00 (up to 16 years of age), 1 hour 15 minutes.
The number of participants is limited. Reservation by telephone +49.(0)30.47997400, or
e-mail ... tickets@komische-oper-berlin.de
All dates can be found in the schedule.
Individual guided tours are also possible. Further information can be requested from Yvonne Trawny by telephone… +49.(0)30.20260.223 or e-mail… fuehrungen@komische-oper-berlin.de
What really is the plot of Rigoletto? Why does the Komische Oper Berlin play the 1805 version of Beethoven's Fidelio? And when did Mozart compose Idomeneo? These and other questions will be answered in the foyer, 30 minutes before the start of the performance. A short introduction provides you with information from experts about plot, work, and composer, so that you can enjoy the performance with the best possible preparation. (No introductions are offered before premières or performances of the children's repertoire.)
Before symphony concerts, too, an in-depth introduction into the evening's works is provided, enhanced by vivid musical examples. The start time is always 45 minutes before the concert, in the foyer.
The introductions are free of charge.
Would you like to know even before the premiere what Rusalka's fairytale world will look like in Barrie Kosky production? Do you want to gain an impression of the musical language of Francis Poulenc? Or would you like to get to know the production team on a new staging? Then you've come to the right place: always two weeks before the current premiere, on Sunday afternoon at 12 noon, in the foyer of the Komische Oper Berlin. The dramaturgist gives you a vivid introduction to the subject-matter and the plot, and presents the production concept in conversation with the director, the conductor, and set- and costume-designers. Entrance to our matinées is free.
For every premiere production and for selected performances of the repertoire there is the possibility to join a discussion with director, conductor, dramaturgist, and participating actors. The performance is discussed in an informal manner in the foyer. Please find the dates in the monthly schedule or on this website. Entrance is free.