Photo taken from Kennedy Center website.
K- I confess I do like opera although that hasn’t always been the case. As a kid, when my mother listened to opera I used to think that it sounded like chickens being strangled. However, living in Europe, I could easily attend an opera or classical singing from anywhere such as a church or the street corner. After awhile I learned to appreciate it. So when C asked me to go to Florencia of the Amazon at the Kennedy Center I said “yes, certainly!”
First we started with dinner and a drink at the bar. It actually wasn’t crowded sowe were able to get a table. The mussels were good, but I would say the frites were even better – especially with beer. After dinner, we dashed to the opera house and went to our seats. As the seats aren’t on a huge incline, being a short person, I asked to sit near the aisle so I could peek around anyone sitting in front of me. The show was in Spanish and had the subtitles above the stage. The story was interesting, which was basically an opera diva returns to the Amazon to see her true love. Although the actors did a great job and the singing was beautiful, it was much better not knowing what they were singing. Seeing the subtitles saying “Iguana, I don’t like eating Iguana!” or something like that, kind of ruined it for me. But overall I enjoyed it. I think the show is no longer, but if you get a chance to an opera – La Boheme is coming up – I would recommend it.
C – That’s hilarious. I totally agree with K on the subtitles. And there were a few parts of the opera that made me go, “hmmmmm.” I will say that we got the best of the cheap seats – $25/each – and that’s because this year I became a member of the Kennedy Center. I’m at the second level which is “contributor” for $120/year. Here’s why it’s worth it:
- Ticket priority! Weeks before shows go on sale to the public, members can choose from their pick of seats. In the past few months I’ve seen the Magic Flute, Jerry Seinfeld and Florencia in the Amazon. In the next few months, I’m headed to Evita, the Mark Twain Prize and La Boheme. The cheap seats sell out first, so ticket priority has been key.
- Member lounges. At this level, it’s nothing fancy. But during intermission, do you really want to stand in a concession line? Coffee, lemonade, water M&M’s and cookies are available in the member lounge. I’ll take it!
- $2 parking coupons. OK-So it really only reduces the cost to $21 to park, but still. It’s something.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566
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