v operu vs. na operu

[Elizaveta Moussinova]

Dear Laura,

I think the right way to say is "na operu", since it is an event, not a 
place. When "opera" is a part of the name of a theater, f.ex. "Novaja 
opera", it's possible to say "Ia jedu v Novuju operu." "Ia jedu na 
Novuju operu" is wrong.

The expression "v operu" was used earlier, but it sounds pretentious 
and outdated to me. Also, I've heard people using this nowadays, but I 
think it's wrong.

Liz Moussinova
Indiana University

Quoting Laura Goering <lgoering at CARLETON.EDU>:

> Dear colleagues:
>
> My local native sources don't agree, so I would appreciate some more
> opinions.  At issue is whether the choice of verb (ezdita' vs.
> khodit') makes a difference and also whether a one-time trip is
> different from multiple trips.
>
> Which of the following are correct, which are impossible and which
> are both possible:
>
> Zachem moei babe vechernee plat'e? Chtoby khodit' na operu./ Chtoby
> khodit' v operu.
>
> Ia byla na diskoteke, ezdila na operu, byla v muzee. / Ia byla na
> diskoteke, ezdila v operu, byla v muzee. [In this one the context
> rules out "khodila na operu."]
>
> Ia govoriu po-iaponski, chasto khozhu na operu, spliu malo/ Ia
> govoriu po-iaponski, chasto khozhu v operu, spliu malo. [Context is
> someone talking about himself.]
>
> Please reply off-list to lgoering at carleton.edu.
>
> Spasibo!
>
> --
> **************************
> Laura Goering
> Professor of Russian
> Chair, Dept. of German and Russian
> Carleton College
> Northfield, MN 55057
> lgoering at carleton.edu
>
> Office: (507) 646-4125
> Dept. office: (507) 646-4252
> Fax: (507) 646-5942
> Home: (507) 663-6142
>
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