Eastbound from Köln; firstdays in Berlin

I just made the successful change between trains in Köln, with a pause of perhaps 30 minutes between trains. Just enough to eat a pretzel and buy a can of Früh for the next leg of the trip, and to walk out onto the square outside the station and have another look at the outside of the cathedral.

The last time I was in Cologne was to sing an audition for the central employment agency... it's got to be four or five years ago now. I came here twice to audition for them; once I was met by Kieth Boldt who was living here, prior to his move to Leipzig. The second time I think I came on my own. The inside of the cathedral is beautiful if I remember correctly, and I see there is a special exhibition inside on the drei Könige, but it's not something I can see today. Perhaps on the return trip?

I don't think that I have forgotten anything, but there's always the chance. The nice pair of warm Kodiac boots that I was planning on wearing as I walked around Beijing seem to have stayed in Canada at Bruce's house; I have a pair of chestnut coloured chukka boots but there isn't much tread on them, so I will look around in Berlin. Unlike the forecast for that part of Germany this week - high temperatures of 14 degrees! - Beijing seems to be fluctuating between highs of +7 and lows of -7. I brought along a light hat, some gloves, and two sweaters, and a very warm scarf, so I hope I will be warm enough. It looks as I will get a chance to meet up with the McKees on the 21st or 22nd, which makes me very happy.

The Brussels-Köln train was qute grimy and packed full of people, some of them without seat reservations. It is a special condition of rail travel in Europe that one may buy a ticket for a rail journey, but a seat reservation is an optional charge. For trains thart aren't busy, one has always the chance to save the few euros on the very likely bet that seats will be there to be taken, but on a busy train, one has to sit on their suitcase in the space between carriages, or take up position in the bar car. This train is a little less crowded and is much quieter. I am happy for that as it will take a bit less than five hours to get to Berlin, even at 150 km/h.

The arrival in Berlin was easy. the station there is beautiful with a large Christmas tree reaching almost to the ceiling. From the main concourse you can see the glass dome of the Reichstag just to the south.

Peter's flat is very easy to find' maybe 15 minutes' walk, in a nicely renovated building with lots of windows, overlooking a little park next to an early 20th century hospital.

We immediately left again after dropping off luggage, as the general rehearsal for Die Fledermaus was starting at 19h. It was quite the production; playing on a steeply raked wooden stage must have been a bit of a challenge for the singers. The Komische Oper does many different kinds of musical theatre; in one week they might play five different performances, and the material ranges from West Side Story (sung in English but with German dialogue) to Fledermaus (all in German of course) to Rossini's Barber (sung in German!) to Strauss's Moses und Aron. It's quite the place.

Yesterday I went out exploring and visited a number of vintage clothing shops inthe Mitte district. Unfortunately most of these are very organized, very clean, and curated, so clothes there are really not a deal. Fortunately I found a new place that is a real jumble, so there were things there that looked more promising; however that will have to wait until thenext visit I think.

In the afternoon we worked quite a bit on the Viennese music and also coached the Peter aria from Hänsel und Gretel, which I love. Then Urs, the tour planner picked me up and I came to the hotel in south Berlin to check in.

Last night the conductor and I went out for dinner, and then made it an early night. Today at noon we will go have lunch with the production team and then our rehearsals begin at a concert hall nearby, with one from 15h to 17h30 and another from 18h to 21h. The same thing happens tomorrow, and then we fly out on the 20th at 15h55.

I hope to go do some a little bit of shopping tomorrow in the morning, but it would seem that very few stores open before noon. Perhaps Saturday morning also will present an opportunity, as long as I am not late to the airport!