Cologne Opera

Free evening in Cologne with nothing planned? Our tip: get a ticket to Cologne's Opera. Waiting for you there every season (always from September to June) is a multidimensional and high quality program. And before the curtain is raised for you in the audience, here's a

little info on the history of the structure. Built in 1957 under architect  Wilhelm Rip- hahn, the Opera House is the most exqui- site example of structural art out of the 1950's. The foyer is bright, larg and spraw- ling. On the left and right one rides both of the stairways into the nice wood- paneled

auditorium with its 1,300 seats. There seats can be selected from four parquettes or 22 terrace seats, which are remeniscent of large bobsleds. From every seat geusts have a good view of the stage, althought the leg room could be larger. The accoustics are good as well and a view to the ceiling shows the beautiful lighting in the form of calyxes that fall gently on the eyes.

Adress: Offenbachplatz. Ticket office in the opera building is open mon-fri. 9am-6pm, sat 9am-2pm. Evening tickets one hour before the show. Web: www.buehnenkoeln.de.

Cologne's Philharmonic Concert House

The Philharmonie really is a milestone for Cologne as a music city, which enjoys a magnificent reputation. It was opened jointly in 1986 with the neighboring Ludwig Musuem. The giant, round and simul- taneously beautiful concert hall radiates with a light wood interior

and the red upohlstry of the seats. Astoun- ding are the lighting and audio systems recessed in the ceiling. The hall lies, ince- dentally, underground between the Dom (cathedral) and the Rhine in the Dom-knoll.  More than 2,000 guests find seats here.  Yearly, 600,000 guests and more than 400

concerts come to the Philharmonie which hosts world stars from clas- sical, jazz and musicals. Celebrated are the performances form the Berlin, Munich and Vienne Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chicago Orchestra up to the NY Philharmonics conducted by Kurt Masur.

Adress: 1 Bischofsgartenstr. Concert tickets are available at "KölnTicket" at tel. 2801 or at the box office in the entrance zone. Internet: www.koelnmusik.de.

Copyright 2005 - NICE CITY! Cologne

Classical music around the city

There's a wide range of daily offerings in classic music in Cologne. Here are some useful tips for an intial orientation:

Churches

If you love choir music, orchestra and organ mu- sic many churches will be on your list of visits in Cologne. Please note that some of the musical acts are part of devine services. More as to the schedules can be found at the Domforum across from the Dom main portal or at phone 92 58 47 20. more

KÖLNER DOM
2 Domkloster
Subway: Dom/Hbf
more

ANTONITERKIRCHE
Schildergasse
Subway: Neumarkt

ST. ANDREAS
8 Komödienstr.
Subway: Dom/Hbf

ST. MARIA LYSKIRCHEN
8 An Lyskirchen
Subway: Heumarkt

ST. APOSTELN
30 Neumarkt
Subway: Neumarkt

ST. KUNIBERT
Kunibertskloster
Subway: Breslauer Platz

ST. MARIA IM KAPITOL
19 Marienplatz
Subway: Heumarkt

GROß ST. MARTIN
An Groß St. Martin
Subway: Dom/Hbf

EV. TRINITATISKIRCHE
Filzengraben 
Subway: Heumarkt

Academy of music

Students at upper levels give semi-professional classic and jazz concerts. There's a new program- me each month. The concerts are held during the semestre periods from february to june and from october to january. The entrance is usually free. Adress: 38 Dagobertstr., phone 912 81 80. Subway: Breslauer Platz. more

WDR broadcasting and concert hall

Huge and nice looking concert hall with the walls and ceiling paneled with light wood. The hall was built for broadcasts with live audience. Another Conspicuous and plea- sant item are the red upholstered jump seats. The hall is often used for live classic and jazz concerts that are broad- casted by the radio station WDR at the same time. That's when the audience is part of the program simply by spen- ding their applause and the ticket prices at 5 to 10 euros are quite low compared with the really good performances. Adress: The entrance of the concert hall is to be found at Wallrafplatz, right from the glass windows of Café Campi. More info at phone 2801. Subway: Dom/Hbf. more

Ticket counters in Cologne city

KÖLN MUSIK TICKET
Roncalliplatz, next to the Roman-Germanic Muse- um. Info at phone 280 280. Subway: Dom/Hbf more

TICKET COUNTER NEUMARKT
in the mall of the subway station Neumarkt. 
Phone 257 38 42

RPR TICKET SHOP
in the main passage way of Cologne's main train station at track 6, phone 139 57 25. Subway: Dom/Hbf.

TICKET COUNTER AT THE KAUFHOF-STORE
Adress: 1 Hohe Str., phone 257 88 11. Subway: Neumarkt.

KÖLNMUSIK EVENT
The ticket counter stands on the first floor of the "Mayersche" bookstore at Neumarkt, phone 280 333. Subway: Neumarkt.