As a few of you knew...on the 19th of May I had tickets for Rain´s collab concert with Cellist Jan Vogler in the Semper Opera.

SO! Me and Baby_Kimchi went to this concert together. Funnily enough, the nearer we got to Dresden, the more it started to rain.

So Rain was literally coming down that day.

We were pretty excited, we we totally dressed up (seriously I  was never before dressed that chicly). But it was fun. I mean visiting such a place... an opera house with this reputation is mind boggling!

When I saw the opera for the first time... I think I was 12 or so at that time, I had chills because it´s ing majestic!

Wikipedia says:

History

The building style itself is debated among many, as it has features that appear in the Early Renaissance style, Baroque and even features Corinthian style pillars typical of classical Greece (classical revival). Perhaps the most suitable label for this style would be Eclecticism; where influences from many styles are used- a practice most common during this period.^[2][3]

The building was reconstructed after a fire destroyed it in 1869. The citizenry demanded that Gottfried Semper do the reconstruction, even though he was in exile at the time because of his activities in the May Uprising in Dresden in 1849. So the architect had his son Manfred Semper complete the second opera house with his father's plans. This second one was constructed in Neo-Renaissance style in 1878. During construction, performances were held at the Gewerbehausall, which opened in 1870.^[4][5]

The building is considered to be a prime example of "Dresden-Baroque" architecture. It is situated on the Theater Square in central Dresden on the bank of the Elbe River. On top of the portal there is a Panther quadriga with a statue of Dionysos. The interior was created by such famous architects of the time as Johannes Schilling. Monuments on the portal depict famous artists such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, William Shakespeare, Sophocles, Molière and Euripides. The building also features work by Ernst Rietschel and Ernst Julius Hähnel.^[6]

In the pre-war years, the building premiered many of the works of Richard Strauss.

During the last weeks of World War II in 1945 the building was destroyed again - this time by Allied bombing and the subsequent fire storms. Exactly 40 years later, on February 13, 1985 the opera was rebuilt almost the same as it was before the war.^[7] It reopened with the same opera that was performed last before the destruction in 1945: Weber's Der Freischütz.^[8]

Usually only the most renomated people stand on that stage, the highest praise would be a standing ovation. Cameras and camcorders are ... seriously you don´t even THINK of bringing them. This house is epic. I can´t say more than that and with that history, it´s clear that one should dress accordingly.

Die hard fans of Rain... I´d advise you to skip the following to the last part in italics because you might not enjoy the following as much.

Thanks.

So we were expecting a calm concert. A perfect mash of the Cello and Rain´s voice. An evening where each performer can truly show his talent and musicality. An unplugged studio concert that feels intimate, if you will.

Well... first of all the audience was pretty mixed... let´s say 60% koreans, 30% very well dressed older Germans and 10% younger Germans (that´s where I count myself in xD ). 50% of that audience was dressed inappropriately. I don´t want to go into full detail but really, they looked like they just wanted to go grocery shopping or chilling at a cafe.

Jan Vogler played excellently. I was stunned! he played this 15minute piece and not once have I found myself drifting towards other thoughts that this particular music and it felt like 5 minutes the most!

Then... omg... there were like lightening and very loud random intro music accomponied by a short presentation on Rain´s CD´s and his tour...also...uhmm... a short facts collection like: name, age, favourite colour, what he likes in woman,etc... seriously?!?! O__O

that felt like an online dating form...

Well, first song: Rainism. The screams and foto flashlights were deafening and blinding! The performance was okay. Nothing special. Just go look for any Music Core performance of this. He also had 6 of his background dancers with him.

After this Vogler and Rain talked a bit about how they met and complimented each other (but I have to point out that Rain sometimes gave a bit over-confident vibe).

They also explained how they´d go on with this: Vogler would start, den Rain and then they´d join the stage together.

The Cello again, was impeccable, Rain did his show too. Dance and performance with the dancers. But seriously...I´d be lying if I said it was outstanding. There was nothing special about the performance also he clearly wasn´t used to having ranks with audiences since he only looked at the people below the stage. He never took off his sunglasses which is... how do I say that. I don´t think there is a nation on this planet that doesn´t think keeping sunglasses on is rude and even more so in an Opera house like that. I wouldn´t have minded this for one song, but he kept it on :/

THE JOINT STAGE!!

I was HOPING for Love song. with Rain just sitting on a stool beside the Cello and no playback, no generic music JUST voice + cello! I don´t doubt he could have pulled it off but yeah....

here´s a fancam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEWoHnYKZPM

I barely heard the Cello. It was a shame. And as you have noticed... besides the Cello this looks, sounds and feels like any other stage.

Rain also closed the concert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D_ddSuClZw&feature=related

After lots of clapping and screaming they came out again for an encore: Love song... again!? Like Rain doesn´t have MORE songs?!!? wth.. really.

To close the rather disappointing points: I truly believe that Rain is capable of SO much more. This seemed like he maybe just didn´t have the time to practice a piece WITH the cello and so he choose to hide behind the dances and background music.

As a result I have to say for me, they myth Rain isn´t existent any longer. I was about 10 metres away from him and it just wasn´t all that glorious. Sorry. Or rather sorry to myself because I was maybe too excited about this and my expectations might have been just too high?

About Rain :) I´m sure everyone s waiting for this! xD

He was SOOO handsome! Although his hair could have been a bit longer (haha, that´s just my taste LOL) and as the vids show, he wore this 3pieces suit which seemed to fit just perfectly. The pants! omg!

All I can say is: thunder thighs and bombastic ! He IS very unasiany built. very muscled and powerful. A few times I feared his pants would just rip open! xD THAT TIGHT! no kidding!

AND he does seem very tall! the 185cm might not be a lie although we all know about how the guys like cheating with showpads ;)

OH! and even throughout love song he didn´t undress himself (well at least that was matching with the opera although after quiete a few dissappointments this MIGHT have made me forget about all the negative things.)

Yeah,... the fans were just ...die hard Rain fans with neon signs and all that... this highly irritated the older generation xD I don´t think they ever felt that uncomfy in the Semper Opera lol.

I´d have loved to do cultural studies on this because clearly there were some misunderstandings there.

I myself sat next to two ahjummas who were screaming for their lives "JUNG JIHUN" and they gave me a fair share of embarassment.