Terms & Conditions

General Terms and Conditions of the artistic undertakings of Stiftung Oper in Berlin

1. Scope
The present Terms and Conditions govern the legal relationship between the individual members of the audience, on the one hand, and Stiftung Oper in Berlin [Berlin Opera Foundation], on the other, concerning the latter's artistic establishments (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Komische Oper Berlin and Staatsballett Berlin). When in the following “Stiftung Oper in Berlin” is referred to, this implicitly comprises all its artistic establishments.
The present Terms and Conditions form part of the contract brought about by the purchase of tickets.
Unless otherwise agreed, the present Terms and Conditions also apply to subscribers and patron organisations and their members.

2. Schedules and start times
The applicable schedules giving the start times can be seen from the official publications of Stiftung Oper in Berlin.
Stiftung Oper in Berlin reserves the right to alter the schedule or cast of its plays.
Stiftung Oper in Berlin does not take any responsibility for information on posters and in other publications.

3. Entrance fee
Stiftung Oper in Berlin publishes the entrance fees charged and advertises them at the box offices and theatre ticket counters.
Price reductions are available to qualified persons or groups of persons upon presentation of adequate proof at the ticket counters of the theatres and opera houses. Discounted tickets are valid only with such proof (certificate). If such proof cannot be produced, the difference between the discounted fee and the full entrance fee must be paid.

4. Ticket sale
Tickets are sold for one season in advance at the dates and times published by Stiftung Oper in Berlin. Stiftung Oper in Berlin reserves the right to limit the number of tickets per buyer in individual cases. Severely disabled persons may benefit from preferential allocation.
Ticket enquiries submitted in writing will be processed from the beginning of the advance sale period on a 'first come, first served' basis. However, it cannot be requested that the ticket purchase orders are processed in the order of their arrival. Ticket orders by telephone will be accepted from the beginning of the advance sale period.
If tickets ordered are not paid within the period specified, they will be released for resale.
Pre-paid tickets can on request be dispatched to the buyer by mail. The costs and risks of mail dispatch shall be borne by the buyer.
Tickets purchased may be resold for commercial purposes only subject to the prior consent of Stiftung Oper in Berlin. Stiftung Oper in Berlin reserves the right to take legal action in case of infringement. Furthermore, Stiftung Oper in Berlin is entitled to refuse any future ticket sale to persons violating the above-mentioned provision.
Stiftung Oper in Berlin reserves the right to alter or amend existing ticket sale regulations. The regulations are published by Stiftung Oper in Berlin or advertised at the box offices and theatre ticket counters.

5. Ticket refunding
Generally return and refunding of purchased tickets is excluded. Expired tickets will not be refunded.
Stiftung Oper in Berlin reserves the right to alter the cast of any of its plays, which does not entitle ticket holders to a refund of their ticket purchase price.
If another play is performed than that announced at the moment of the ticket purchase, such ticket may be returned before the beginning of the performance, and the ticket price will be refunded.
If a performance is cancelled without another play being performed or a replacement date being offered, the ticket price will be refunded if the tickets are presented or sent to Patron Services within 30 days of the scheduled date of the performance.
If a performance is discontinued or ends prematurely, ticket holders are entitled to a refund of the ticket price only if the performance ends before the first intermission or, if without intermission, if it ends before half of the scheduled duration has passed. Such claim can be asserted only within 30 days of the date of the performance by submitting (presenting or sending) the tickets to Patron Services.
No expenses or losses sustained by ticket holders exceeding the claim for refund of the ticket price as specified in the paragraphs above will be reimbursed.

6. Lost tickets
If a ticket holder loses his/her ticket, the box office or ticket counter will provide a replacement ticket if he/she furnishes sufficient evidence of the ticket he/she had purchased. The holder of the original ticket takes precedence over the owner of a replacement ticket.

7. Opening of doors
As a rule, the doors of the cloakrooms and foyers open one hour before the commencement of the performance.
Ticket holders have no right to enter the auditorium after the commencement of the performance. If a ticket holder is denied entry due to his/her late arrival, they are not entitled to a refund of the ticket price.

8. Cloakroom
Coats, hats and bags may be only taken into the auditorium if this does not bother the other spectators. These items can be deposited in the cloakroom for the duration of the performance. Safekeeping of animals is generally excluded. Stiftung Oper in Berlin reserves the right to charge a cloakroom fee.
All items deposited are insured in accordance with the insurance terms and conditions displayed. Deutsche Oper Berlin provides cloakrooms for furs. Spectators can deposit their furs in the designated cloakrooms only and against payment of an insurance fee.
The items deposited in the cloakroom will be returned upon presentation of the cloakroom ticket or tag without further check of ownership. Without the presentation of a cloakroom ticket or tag, the items deposited can only be returned if the person claiming them furnishes sufficient evidence to prove the legitimacy of the claim.
The cloakroom staff must be informed immediately of any mix-up or loss of or damage to items deposited or the loss of the cloakroom ticket or tag. Spectators losing their cloakroom tag must bear the cost of replacement.

9. Lost property
Any lost property found on the premises of Stiftung Oper in Berlin must be delivered to the theatre or cloakroom staff. Lost property is handled pursuant to the regulations of articles 978 et sequ. of the German civil code (BGB).

10. Authority
The authority over the premises lies with the managing director who authorises the respective agents, particularly the staff present during the evening performances, to exercise such authority.
The instructions of the theatre or opera house staff must be complied with.
Patrons may be refused entry to the theatres or opera houses if there is reason to believe that they will disturb the performance or bother the other spectators. Spectators can be removed from a performance in progress if they disrupt the performance, bother other spectators or took seats for which they do not have a ticket. Entry can also be refused to patrons who repeatedly violated the present Terms and Conditions. They are not entitled to a refund of their entrance fees or to other damages or compensation of expenses.
Persons interfering with the sale of tickets or bothering spectators can be removed from the premises. It is not permitted to offer tickets for resale in the box offices or entrance halls or elsewhere on the premises.
It is not permitted to occupy a seat other than that indicated on the ticket. If spectators change seats without authorisation to do so, Stiftung Oper in Berlin may charge any extra costs or seat them on the seats paid for or remove them from the auditorium.
Mobile phones, watches and other technical devices emitting acoustic signals must be switched off during the performance.
Smoking is prohibited in the venues of Stiftung Oper in Berlin except for the smoking areas provided.

11. Image and sound recording
Spectators are not allowed to make image and/or sound recordings of any kind. In case of infringement the spectators can be removed from the theatre or opera house.
If image and sound recordings during a performance are made by persons authorised by Stiftung Oper in Berlin, the spectators, by attending the performance, agree to the possibility of being filmed or recorded and to having such recordings broadcasted, issued or published without any right to remuneration.

12. Liability
Stiftung Oper in Berlin, its representatives and agents accept liability for losses of any kind sustained by spectators in the theatres or opera houses of Stiftung Oper in Berlin only in case of gross negligence or intent. This shall be without prejudice to liability in the event of death, bodily harm or injury to health if the damage sustained is typical and foreseeable.

13. Data privacy
I herewith agree that the personal order data given below are recorded, processed and used by any artistic establishment of Stiftung Oper in Berlin (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Komische Oper Berlin and Staatsballett Berlin) for the purposes of customer service. Such data are used in our customer service work in order to provide important information to the patrons, benefiting them. I was informed that I can at any time revoke this agreement without prejudice. Stiftung Oper in Berlin affirmed that data privacy is absolutely ensured and that my data will not be transmitted to third parties.

14. Entering into force
The present General Terms and Conditions will enter into force on 15 November 2010. Simultaneously the previous General Terms and Conditions of Stiftung Oper in Berlin shall cease to have effect.

15. Final clause
Should individual provisions of the present General Terms and Conditions be ineffective, the effectiveness of its other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

The German version of the present General Terms and Conditions is binding. This English translation is provided by Stiftung Oper in Berlin for information only.