My night at the Opera, after being stuck in the NYC Subway for about an hour and half, was definitely worth the hassle.

After being graced by the beautiful fountain outside the Opera, the inside was no less beautiful. Decorated with crystal chandeliers and beautiful red velvet everywhere, the crowd dressed in their nicest dresses and shoes for a night out, the atmosphere was an accurate preview of what a grand night it would be.

Our seats were high up, where the orchestra looked like little stick figures and it felt as if I could touch the ornate ceiling. But, armed with binoculars and the cute little screens in front of our eyes that translated the words for us, we were ready.

I won’t give details of the summary, plot, or setting, because that is not what made the opera stand out to me. Initially, going into the opera, the image I had in my head was a stereotypical one – a middle-aged European woman standing in one place, belting out notes and lyrics that were beyond anyone’s understanding. However, to my pleasant surprise, to say the least, the stage was decorated as was any other play, and the characters were engaged. They were expressive in their movement, powerful in their singing, and made use of the set, which despite the language barrier, really made it possible for the viewer to understand the storyline.

The combination of the visual and audio elements truly made the opera enjoyable, and redefined what an opera was in my eyes. It was no longer an unengaging, boring event, but instead an event that beautifully combined singing and acting in a way that a play didn’t.

Overall, I am very happy that I had the opportunity to attend the Opera, and perhaps if I didn’t, I would be stuck with the misconception that an Opera would not be worth seeing.