I went on the Zurich Opera website, as I was toying with the possibility of purchasing tickets for my visit in March. Well, I kept moving forward through the reservations procedure thinking that I would make a decision--based on the seats available, the prices--before my credit card number was requested. Although my name and address were requested, my credit card number never was. So I figured that online purchases weren't possible or that I didn't know what I was doing and gave up.

I'd completely forgotten about the experience when, a few weeks later, what looks very much like tickets, with the name of the opera, seat numbers, a date and time and everything, arrived in the mail! They're in German, so I don't know exactly what they say. (One thing seems to be about checking the papers that day for possible time changes for the production??) But there does not seem to be anything about where or when I can purchase these tickets. I checked with my credit card company, and, indeed, there is no charge showing (I thought I had perhaps forgotten putting in my card number).

Anyone with experience with European theater know what this can be about? Are they actually holding these seats for me, and, if so, until when?

P.S. I tried emailing them from their website--no response.

Hi Guy18,

I'm stumped too. If you can reproduce the sentences in German, someone here may be able to help you. Or you can try to translate the German at the Google "language tools" area.

Good luck!

s

Thanks, swandav. I've used freetranslation.com or something like that already, and I'm almost positive it says nothing about purchasing deadlines. It appears to be just like any normal (paid-for)ticket...

Guy18:

I just looked at the terms and conditions on the site of the Zurich Opera. They are not very clear in either language. It does say, though, that if you choose to pick up the tickets at the box office, there is no charge, and if you choose to have them sent to you by mail there is a charge of SFR 8 per order.

If it's not enormously lengthy, can you copy out whatever you received? I read and speak German and perhaps I can figure out what it's all about.

Thanks, Eloise. The sheet that accompanies the tickets says:

Rechnung
Ihre Kartenbestellung: (numbers)
Besten Dank fur Ihren Auftrag. Wir haben folgende Platze fur Sie reserviert:

Auftrag: (numbers)
Veranstaltung: Stiffelio am 24.03.2006 um 19:30 Uhr

Then it gives my "reihe" and "platz"
Then it tallies up some charges.

Then:

Zahlungsfrist 23.04.2006 (The "23" is actually one day before the actual date of the ticket. The "04" is a month later. I'm wondering if the "4" for the month should be a "3" and if this is when I'm supposed to purchase it?)

Bitte uberprufen Sie die Anfangszeit am Tag der Vorstellung in der Tagespresse.

Die Karten werden Ihnen nach Zahlungseingang zugestellt.

Yes, the seats are reserved, and you're supposed to pay for them by "23.04.2006".

s

So then the question is:

Is the "04" a mistake? Or is the Zurich Opera House extending me a month's credit?

I give up; it just doesn't make much sense.

What they have sent you is a <b>bill</b> (Rechnung).

1. The tickets have been reserved for you. (Fine.)

2. You have to pay for them by 23.04.2006. (Which is a month later than the performance, so let's assume they really mean 23.03.2006.)

3. Check performance time in the local daily press. (Fine.)

4. The tickets will be sent to you after payment has been received. (I beg your pardon? You pay by 23.03.2006 and they are going to <b>send</b> you the tickets for the next day's performance? How do they propose to do that: by private jet?)

I see two possibilities:

a) Either you did give them your credit card number and one of these days they will process the charge and then they will mail you the tickets. (Among the charges, is there one for SFR 8? If there is, that would be the charge for sending you the tickets.) If you get the tickets, then all is in order.

b) Or, if you do <b>not</b> get the tickets by mail, you present yourself at the box office on arrival in Zurich (check the box office hours before going), hand them their document and your credit card, and buy the tickets that have been reserved for you. But if in the meantime the charges have appeared on your credit card and you have <b>not</b> received the tickets, request - demand? - that they issue duplicate tickets.

I really, really wish this were much clearer, but it's the best I can do. And believe me, it is not because of a lack of command of the German language. (Although when I have been in Switzerland, I have noticed that they tend to use it a little differently than it is used in Germany...)

I just went onto their website. It said that as soon as you give them your credit card number, the contract is legal. It also said that you can only pay by credit card when you book on-line. Since you say that you didn't give them your number, I'm surprised that you got a ticket anyway.

Do write them an email and explain your situation. I sincerely think they will cancel your tickets and the whole mess will end.

By the way, there is a red sentence before you go onto the page where you place your order that says: Do not use the &quot;zur&uuml;ck&quot; (return) button of your browser while placing your order.&quot;

Sounds like they know that they have a problematic website. This is their contact page in their website: http://www.opernhaus.ch/d/kontakt.php.

Viel Gl&uuml;ck!

I must be missing something here, but if you are positive you didn't give them your credit card number, why do you have to do anything. There isn't any way they can charge you. It sounds like certain train tickets you can reserve online -- if you don't pick them up or pay by a certain date, they are simply cancelled.

Now maybe Guy really wants the tickets, however.

Thanks for all of your efforts! Since it says it's a bill and since I don't think I gave my credit card number, I'm going to assume that I'm to go to the box office the day before the performance and buy them.

Sounds like the Zurich Opera needs a better customer service manager or webmaster or both...

So does anyone know the opera Stiffelio? SHOULD I see it?????

I don't know the opera, but you can read about it here:

http://www.r-ds.com/opera/verdiana/stiffelio.htm

For the synopsis, go to the list on the left-hand side of the page.