TRANSCRIPT
It's known as the beautiful game.
And for passionate fans world-wide, football is like a religion, with its own chants and hymns.
Euro 2024 in Germany has been no different, from these Croatian and Spanish fans sharing a song before their Group B opener in Berlin...
... to Scottish fans in Munich, wearing kilts, playing bagpipes, and endearing themselves to the locals - or not.
Stadiums, beer gardens and city squares are teeming with supporters, who’ve travelled to Germany to catch a glimpse of their teams.
And in Hamburg, where multiple matches are being played, a local opera house is cashing in.
A new production called the "Fussballoper" or "Football Opera" is selling out to lovers of both sport and music. Inken Rahardt is the show's director.
She says the connection between football and opera is "perfect".
“I found that both have a lot of drama and a lot of performance. And so I thought that a combination of both would be a very interesting evening.”
The show brings a football pitch and its chaotic interactions to the stage.
There are performers representing players, a referee, and the once-in-a-lifetime role of "ball".
Naturally, it lasts 90 minutes - the time of a game.
And it mixes traditional arias with iconic fan chants.
Freja Sandkamm is performing as the referee.
She says the show is a mix of everything.
“Opera arias to pop rock, musicals, some schlager, football chants, soccer chanting. For me, there's a lot of different roles as well, so a lot of costume changes, quick costume changes and also very quick changes between the genres which is quite demanding.”
There is plenty of participation from spectators in colourful hats and scarves.
And it's had rave reviews from among lovers of the arts and lovers of sport alike.
Woman: “My boyfriend likes football, I don't. So it’s a good mix with music and football.”
Man: “It's really a good way to attract people that maybe are not going to opera very much and maybe tend to go and watch more football.”
Winners all round – unlike Euro 2024, where only one team can be crowned.
