The Grand Opera Gala in support of the AIDS Foundation will again be held at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the 17th occasion that the Opera has hosted the Gala. The event has become one of the most important charity functions to be hosted in the capital and is now an established fixture on Berlin's cultural and social calendar. Under the direction of Donald Runnicles and working alongside the chorus and orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, top-class actors - both talented newcomers and established artists - will lay bare the world of opera in all its fascinating variety. All-round talent Max Raabe will act as MC. Audiences can expect not only a distillation of pure opera in distinguished company but also the satisfaction of serving a cause that continues to affect us all.