Birdy at the Opera

Birdy, 26.05.2017

Location: Alte Oper, Frankfurt

Ticket price: 48,20€

Hotel: Hilton Hotel Frankfurt City Centre

Favourite song of the artist: Words

Least favourite song of the artist: –

Favourite lyrics: ‚I told you to be patient. I told you to be fine. I told you to be balanced. I told you to be kind‘ (Skinny Love)

Favourite song live: Skinny Love

Favourite quote of the night: „When does the concert start?!“

Why this artist?

I have to admit that the first time I heard Skinny Love I thought it was an original song by Birdy. Now I know, of course, that Bon Iver wrote it. Same goes for People help the people- also not an original Birdy song. Still, I love the cover versions by Birdy.

Location

The ‚Alte Oper‘ (old opera) is a very pretty building in the middle if Frankfurt’s shopping area. It’s basically a connection between the ‚normal‘ shopping area and the luxury shopping one. It’s surrounded by a large open space where you can sit outside in summer and have a drink. The parking garage underneath the opera is one if the cheaper ones in Frankfurt, because it has a maximum price that doesn’t leave you bankrupt.

The Hilton Hotel we stayed in is my favourite hotel in Frankfurt. I don’t know if it is because of my soft spot for Hilton hotels, the beautiful look down from the elevator or the perfect location in the middle of everything, without having your sleep ruined by honking cars. Even if you want to celebrate, there’s an entrance from the hotel to the club next door. The only thing that is a bit tricky is the Wifi. If you’re not a Hilton Honors member you have to pay a lot of money for it.

But back to the old opera. The building is modern inside and the acoustics are great, no matter where you sit or stand. Finding your way around inside the building can be a bit tricky, but other than that I really like the location.

Concert

I have to start with the main artist this time, simply because I have no idea who the support act was or how they were. We missed them. We were late, simple as that.

For once we sat in the gallery, because when I got the tickets these were the only ones available. In this case I didn’t mind too much, because the acoustics at the opera building are made to work wherever you sit. That’s why it’s an opera not a stadium.

From the second Birdy stepped on stage until the moment she left the atmosphere was unlike any other concert I have been to. The best to describe it is when you are at church and listen to a beautiful choir. People didn’t scream like they usual do. There were no interruptions during the songs and we agreed afterwards that we didn’t really dare to sing along because it just didn’t fit the atmosphere. I can’t say if was the artists, the building or the arrangement of the songs, but that’s how we felt. This isn’t meant in a negative way. It was just so beautiful.

Here you can find a short video of Skinny Love:

Fun facts

We went shopping before the concert and then grabbed something to drink and eat. While we sat there outside enjoying the nice weather we forgot about the time. At one point we remembered the time and by then our plan to go back to the hotel, get ready, shower and change was shot to hell. We had to rush back, throw the shopping bags in the corner and rush back out so we wouldn’t miss the concert.

Random thoughts

I definitely want to see another show at this venue. I will keep my eyes open for the program.

Do it again?

Yes, absolutely.