24 October marks a special debut for Plácido Domingo - his first professional performance as a baritone. Daniel Barenboim conducts as Plácido takes the title role in Simon Boccanegra at Berlin's Staatsoper unter den Linden. Crazy ticket prices (up to €220) haven't dented sales - the whole run is sold out.
There are still a few tickets left for an even rarer event though.
On 4 November, Plácido is to give a one-off recital in Berlin's Philharmonie.
Barenboim and the Berlin Staatskapelle will accompany Plácido in works by Handel, Mozart, Wagner, Massenet and Mascagni, together with some zarzuela. All artists involved have waived their fees, and proceeds will go towards the major reconstruction work at the Staatsoper scheduled to start next season.
With ticket prices as high as €260 (a month's rent for many Berliners) for the best seats, that should buy quite a few bricks.
