On the 26th, the Staatsoper has a performance of the new production of Don Giovanni (it actually premiers tonight 15.December) - the cast is great (Rene Pape as the Don), the production is by Peter Mussbach, who is always incisive and thought-provoking, and most importantly, Barenboim himself is in the pit. It is showing sold out on the web site, but it is IMHO worth trying to get a ticket to.

Thanks, it certainly looks interesting. Too bad it shows 'sold out'. Would you happen to know if I could go directly to Staatsoper to check if there are last-minute cancellations?

By the way, any thought on Christmas service at the Berliner Dom? I don't know German so maybe I just missed it on the website, but I can't find what music will be sung.

I would check, but I do not believe that you will be lucky. Depending on the price you are willing to pay I would contact the concierge of your hotel or check on Ebay. Regarding Christmas Service in the Berliner Dom I checked and was as unlucky as you. Maybe you would prefer the catholic version in the Hedwigskathedrale:


21:30 | Weihnachtsliedersingen
22:00 | Christmette
Josef Rheinberger: Missa in C-Dur
Weihnachtsmusik von Andreas Hammerschmidt, Georg Friedrich Händel,
Hans Leo Hassler, Michael Praetorius, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, David Willocks
Eugène Gigout: Toccata h-moll
Solisten, Kammersymphonie Berlin
Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale