Die Hochzeit des Figaros

On Friday 5 people, Americans 4:1, saw an opera in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, written by an Austrian, set in Spain, and sung in Italian.
Sound like the "Marriage of Figaro"? Good, because it is.

The beauty of it was that the train and opera tickets only cost us 12.40 Euros per person, which is amazingly cheap, considering Gelsenkirchen is farther away than Essen. Gelsenkirchen is apparently Germany's "Hollywood," too. Thus begins another one of those proud, patriotic home moments. Speaking of patriotism, Gelsenkirchen is gearing up for the WM. We're betting over here that by July you will not be able to see such colors as green and blue anywhere in Germany.

The opera was beautiful too. It was set in a more modern atmosphere, so the costumes, sets, and props were completely 21st century. Take, for instance, this scene in which the count tries to get Sussana out of the closet. Does the count use his shoulder to ram the door down? No. An old shoemaker's hammer? No. He uses a chain saw.