EuroTrip 2005

Vienna and my First Opera

If I had published this post before 5:30 last night, after my first day in Vienna, I would have said that it was pretty, and very cold, but I had seen enough and would be leaving for Prague one day early. I felt that the city was nice, but I was ready to leave after just one day of sightseeing. I tried to get tickets to the Opera, it was the one thing that I really wanted to do when I arrived in Vienna, little did I know that these seats sell out months in advance. They looked at me like I was crazy for wanting a ticket the night of the show :o). A man did tell me though, if I show up early, I might be able to get standing room only. So, at 6:30 I headed for the Wiener Staatsoper and stood in line, hoping I could get in. I was standing behind a lovely woman, early 50's and we had some nice conversation while we were waiting.. She grew up in Vienna, but lives in Minnesota now. She only comes back to Austria to see family and her mother, who is 99 years old. She just said to follow her, we grabbed our tickets, checked our coats and found our "seats". She then took me on a tour of the opera house, explaining everything about it's history. We had a quick cappuccino and went in to see the Opera. It was Salome, Herod's daughter who danced so well that the Tetriarch promised to give her anything she asked for, whereupon she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. It was an incredibly beautiful opera, even though the story and music was a bit harsh. I had never seen the opera, so I was curious if I would like it or not. I am in love with it. It also gave me new appreciation for some of the paintings I saw in Uffizi (Salome with the Baptist's Head by Alonso Berruguete).

After the opera, Rosvita took me to get a poster of the opera, and then took me backstage to get it autographed by the singers/conductor. She explained to the woman next to us that this was my very first opera. The woman looked at me with a very stern face and said "Be very careful... It's completely addictive", and smiled. She's right, I think I am addicted completely! When we were leaving the Opera House, she asked if I was in a rush to get anywhere. Definitely not! So, she walked me around the city, explaining the old churches, the monuments, the buildings. She told me about her life, and I told her about mine. She is a very beautiful person, I'm just very happy that I happened to be standing behind her in line!! I was planning to leave a day early, but La Traviata opens tonight and I think I will stay one more night. She told me how beautiful this opera is, and it would be a shame to leave without seeing it. I don't think I gave Vienna a fair chance and I am off today to do more exploring of the city, and of course to see La Traviata tonight, and hopefully will see Rosvita there!

posted by Donna Weeden @ 1:19 AM