Russians complain that opera and ballet are becoming unaffordable

Russians complain that opera and ballet are becoming unaffordable

Opera

norman lebrecht

December 30, 2022

At ticket prices of 2,000 to 18,000 rubles ($28-250), many Russians are forsaking a longheld family tradition and staying home over Christmas and New Year.

Here’s one testimony from Novosibirsk:
‘!n October-November 2022 I went to the NOVAT website to buy a ticket.

‘Imagine my surprise when I discovered that “our” tickets cost five thousand rubles each. At first I was shocked, then outraged. It’s not like I don’t have ten thousand. They, thank God, are. But I can’t waste my monthly food budget on keeping up the New Year’s tradition. I can’t afford it. The importance of bodily food over the spiritual prevails. The eldest daughter, already a teenager, although she was looking forward to this event, quickly entered the position. But before the youngest it was very embarrassing to explain…’

Comments

  • Potter Herald says:

    With monthly earnings within 20 000-30 000 rubles range it’s quiet understandable

  • Ragnar Danneskjoeld says:

    Ukrainians complain that their opera houses have been bombed and its performers raped and/or killed.

    Tough luck, Novosibirsk parent.

  • sonicsinfonia says:

    Traditionally, Russians had pretty cheap access to the Mariinsky and Bolshoi, Western tourists being charged much more for tickets. I suppose tourism isn’t thriving…

  • David K. Nelson says:

    Well if Putin keeps having his oligarchs murdered they have to take up the slack somewhere. Of course the prices will increase for everybody else.

  • Tiredofitall says:

    Poor дети. I’ll light a candle.

  • Genius Repairman says:

    Maybe if little Russia pulled out of Ukraine and stopped trying to rewrite history prices would be a little cheaper.

  • Dan says:

    Oh no. But at least you have an operahouse, blyat.

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