Initially, I was enthusiastic to go to the opera.  My grandmother always talks about how she always bought season tickets to the Met and how going to the opera was her favorite thing to do.  She set high expectations for me and after reading La Tosca, I was anxious to see how the characters and scenes would be portrayed on stage.  Walking into the Met I was shocked at how extravagant everyone looked in their fur coats and flashy jewels.  The building and the decorations were breathtaking.  The beautiful chandeliers and the rich red colored seats looked so elaborate.

The voices of the actors and actress were fantastic. I was astonished that the voices I was hearing were coming from people standing in front of me.  I never particularly enjoyed listening to my grandmother’s opera music in the car, however, hearing and watching it in person was a different experience.  The music was phenomenal.  I felt that it was hard to connect and sympathize with the characters because they were singing in a different language. I felt the emotions were being conveyed through the instrumental music.  Whether someone was angry, happy, or sad, I felt the emotion through the music.   I was shocked at how huge the sets were.  It added to the extravagance of the show.  I felt that the opera was a little dragged out and boring at some parts.  In my opinion, the story line did not excite me whether I was reading it or seeing it.  It was not the plot that I appreciated in the opera; it was the whole experience.  The orchestra, the singing, the costumes, and the scenery all added to the experience that I enjoyed.

In conclusion, going to see Tosca gave me respect for opera. It was definitely an experience.  I realized that opera is a culture rather than just a show.  Although I felt the entire three hour opera could have been translated into ten minutes in a movie, the experience of the opera was enjoyable.  Maybe I will take my grandmother to the opera one day!