Carmen at the Met

Last night I decided to go and watch the new Opera production of Carmen.  I left work and arrived with 10 minutes to spare.  I was really lucky to have found a parking spot on 56th street, in front of the 24 hours diner (same avenue where Fordham University is at).  


Once the car was parked, I started running towards the theater, I still needed to get a ticket - preferably a standing ticket.  The air was cold and it was cutting through my throat, by the time I arrived to the sales booth, I was told that it was all sold out.  While I was catching my breath, I noticed several gentleman at the door trying to sell their tickets (scalpers), so one of them approached me and asked if I needed 1 ticket.  He had a family circle seat, and he wanted $50.00, to which I paused and said I was not interested, then he asked me how much would I be willing to pay... I said $35.00, he replied that the ticket cost him $40.00... I said that perhaps another day, then he said that he would settled for $40.00 (with only 2 minutes to go before the opera would have started) I decided that this was fair for the new Carmen production, so I paid.


I was now heading towards my seat, my throat wast itching (I was concerned that I may have caught a cold (taking NYQuil as I am typing this entry),  but I decided it was all worth it.  When I found my seat, I was next to 2 german youths, they asked me how much I paid for the sit (they said that they attained theirs from a scalper)... I replied "$40.00, and you?"... they said "...$50.00"...and then they congratulated me.


To my left I had a gentleman that was a bit eccentric and emotional - he kept on moving during the entire show, and he kept of dancing on his sit to the rhythm of the music.  In front of me, I had students - this section of the opera is always packed with students and their teachers - the student in front of me was leaning forward, hence his head covered the center part of the stage, but this matter little since I was there to listen to the opera.


Here is what impressed me most:

• The stage was nicely done
• The ballet dancers that start opening both first acts (the first act and the one that starts after the intermission).
• The Spanish stomping and clapping dancers.
• The music was nice, forte, energetic, and well done (not history maker, but very enjoyable)

I think this Opera is very worthwhile to attend to.  I am happy for having spent those $40.00 on such occasion.