(Credit: https://www.buehnen-frankfurt.de/)

Oper Frankfurt has announced that, starting Dec. 16, 2021, it will reduce its seating capacity to maximum of 530 spectators.

Per the new State Ordinance of the State of Hessen, theaters and opera houses are required to further limit seating capacity in venues due to the concerns over the ongoing spread of COVID-19. Oper Frankfurt uses 2G+ rule for entry, meaning that also the vaccinated and recovered persons must have a negative COVID-19 test in order to attend the performances.

“We are now faced with the task, after already having to tell several hundred people per performance not to come, of disappointing further potential spectators in the space of two days. This is hardly feasible but we will try, and we hope that our opera friends will understand,“ said Intendant of the Oper Frankfurt Bernd Loebe, who seemed very irritated with the newest change of rules.

Oper Frankfurt will present two operas on Dec. 16 including Handel’s “Amadigi” at the Bockenheimer Depot with Brennan Hall, Elizabeth Sutphen, Elizabeth Reiter, and Beth Taylor, and Bellini’s “Norma” starring Ambur Braid, Stefano La Colla, Bianca Andrew, and Andreas Bauer Kanabas at the Opernhaus.