"Too much sex" was the verdict of Lisa (16) on Berg's opera about, er, sex.
Lisa was one of fifty one 16 to 17 year old students invited by the Semper Oper to view Stefan Herheim's Lulu in an attempt to renew the audience (current average age = 55).
Instead of the schools matinees we get in London, Intendant Dr Ulrike Hessler gave the Dresden students the best seats in the house together with five weeks of study classes on the basis that "We must think about the future!" And it seems to have worked - none of them left in the breaks of the four hour show, all applauded, and despite Lisa's reservations, she said she'll definitely visit the opera again.

