De Anza German students enjoyed an evening of unconventional entertainment on Monday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Nov. 24. Instead of getting together at a party or watching the latest flick about a green furball who stole a major Christian holiday, some German students dressed up and went to see the opera “Der Rosenkavalier” in San Francisco.

For seven years German instructor Heidi Melas has taken her students out to enjoy Wagner, Strauss, Mozart and other famous German composers for reduced prices yet fabulous seats each year, usually in the fall. Says Melas, “Music is such an important part of German culture. This way, German students get first hand experience and exposure.”

And what an experience it is. I went along with the students to see the Friday evening showing of the story that takes place in Vienna in the year 1745 and tells about “intrigue and dalliance in an aristocratic provenance.” The aging Marschallin enjoys a romantic relationship with a young count.

Over the course of this four-hour long opera the count delivers the silver rose to the maid to be married. They proceed to fall in love, with the count being all the more susceptible to true romance after having met the obnoxious aristocrat who intends to take the Marschallin as his wife. After more deceit and cross-dressing the baron in the end, renounces his future bride. The Marschallin realizes that her affair with her admiring count has run its course and opens the door for blissful love of two young ones who found each other.

If you liked “Shakespeare In Love,” you would have liked this opera for sure. “Der Rosenkavalier” is one of opera’s most famous trouser roles, with the male role of the count played and sung by a woman. This may take some getting used to, especially in a very naturalistic bedroom scene that involves kissing and fondling. All awkwardness, however, quickly vanishes in the face of lavish costumes and beautiful music that pair with romance and a quite naturalistic bedroom scene.

The opera was a first for many of the students attending “Der Rosenkavalier.” When asked about their impressions, all agreed it was a “great experience” and definitely worthwhile. “I saw all these beautiful costumes they were wearing and I felt like I had been transported back in time,” said German 1 student Debora Kopel. Eric Uhrhane, another student, said it was challenging at times because the German sung opera is hard to understand, but added that the subtitles provided on a big screen above the stage “really helped” the understanding, even though they were a little distracting at times. Kopel, Uhrhane and others would “definitely see another opera, preferably Mozart’s famous ‘The Magic Flute’.”

Melas says she wants to continue to provide “cultural enrichment” for her students. She is already in the process of getting tickets for “The Magic Flute” which will be staged next January.