Mom came to NY yesterday after a 13 hour travel ordeal. Her flight got delayed and diverted to Hartford CT, and she shared a car service with two very nice business people she met. (Mary traveled with Sherry and Harry!) She got to the apartment just in time for us to have a bite to eat and head to the opera. It was the first time I'd seen La Boheme. The only time I had ever been to the opera previously was compliments of Tommy Gormley who insisted his son fill this appalling gap in my cultural life. We saw Hansel and Gretel at the Dallas Opera. That was 20 years ago, so it's been awhile. La Boheme is a beautiful opera, and one that leaves you crying at the end. I was surprised at what a social event it's set up to be. Act I and II, 28 minute intermission. Act III, followed by a 33 minute intermission. Then Act IV. People wander around and find their friends, chatting briefly before going off to hunt up the next one. I have no idea how they find one another, as they seem surprised to stumble upon them...The performances were spectacular, but the sets were what really amazed me. I've never seen a production with anything like them. A rooftop garret, a multi-tiered city market, complete with marching band and donkey-driven cart, a winter scene with a house, monuments and giant trees, and finally, back to the garret.
Today, we're off shopping, to see The King's Speech, and who knows what else?
