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Old November 9th 03, 08:24 AM
Yoj
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"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in
message ...
I posted the following to my travel and opera newsgroups, who probably
can be of more help from a practical standpoint. However, given the
proven "power of purr", I figured it would do no harm to post it here,
too. I can certainly use all the help I can get!

__________________________________

After believing my Zurich hotel (Hotel Opera) when they assured me

that
procuring tickets to "Die Meistersinger" the next to last week in
December would be no problem for them, in July I booked (and paid for)

a
non-changeable, non-refundable airline ticket from L. A. to Zurich.
This week I received an e-mail from the hotel informing me that the
operas were on "subscription series", sold out, and although they've
placed me on the Opernhaus waiting list, they are not too hopeful!

The sole reason for the journey was to hear my favorite opera singer

in
a very demanding role which he may not sing again (he's in his
mid-sixties, and thinking of retiring from the operatic stage). I
cannot afford to forfeit the rather substantial amount of money the
airfare represents, so MUST make the trip to Zurich, but am not

exactly
overjoyed at traveling all that distance for nothing! I have faxed

the
opera house explaining my particular circumstances, but my German is

so
inadequate I've no idea whether the fax number I found in the season
brochure is likely to reach the box-office.

I have written a followup letter to the opera house box office, with

the
same information I put in my fax, but it will take a week to reach
Zurich from Los Angeles. I have written a letter to "my" singer in

care
of the opera house, telling him the problem and asking him to use his
influence for me. (The opera is probably in rehearsal now, but there
will be the same week's delay before he gets my letter - if he does.)

I
have also e-mailed him at the address he once gave me, but who knows

how
often he checks his e-mail, or even whether he monitors it himself?

When I first decided to go, I asked Western States Tickets to find the
opera tickets for me (I'd rather pay their inflated prices, as I've

done
in the past, and KNOW I have seats) but they "have little demand" for
opera in Zurich or any other venues off the beaten tourist path, so

more
or less told me (politely) that they didn't want to be bothered.

Short
of camping out in the box-office lobby for my entire week in Zurich,
hoping to waylay someone who cannot use their ticket, does anyone have
any suggestions how I might manage to attend at least ONE performance?

Any help you can offer will be GREATLY appreciated.

Evelyn


No suggestions, but lots of purrs coming from here. I hope you get to
see the performance.

Joy