Today I went to see an Opera for the first time. It was called La Traviata. Ross was seeing it for a class, and he asked me to come along. I hadn't seen an Opera before, and I thought it'd be a great experience, so I went. It was great!

The basic story was this: (Act I) Violetta was holding a party in her apartment, and everyone was drinking and being merry. She suggests that all of the guests go into the next room and dance. She gets short of breath, and tells them all to go ahead without her. Alfredo stays behind, and tells her of how he had loved her for a year afar. Violetta questions whether she should accept his love, or continue her lifestyle of going from pleasure to pleasure. She decides to go with him.

(Act II) Three weeks later they are living together in a lavish house. They're having trouble paying for the place, so Violetta sells most of her belongings in secret. Alfredo finds out, and goes to solve the problem. While he is gone, Alfredo's father comes to see Violetta. He tells her that she should leave him so he could go marry someone else. She protests, saying that she is dying from a fatal illness, and doesn't want to go on without Alfredo. The father insists, and Violetta decides to agree, and leave Alfredo. She leaves a note, and then heads off for a party with one of her friends. Alfredo finds out she left, and decides to go after her. At the party, Violetta is with the Baron, and Alfredo tries to talk with her. He gets angry at her, and basically insults her. The other guests tell him to get out, and his father shows up to say how he doesn't recognize him as his own son anymore. The Baron challenges Alfredo to a duel, and he accepts.

(Act III) Violetta is laying in bed at her home in Paris, with her servent Annita. The doctor comes to see her, and tells her that she'll be alright. Violetta doesn't belive him, and he tells Annita that it is a matter of hours before she dies. Violetta contemplates how her life was, the duel which Alfredo won and injured the Baron, and how she won't be able to see Alfredo again. Alfredo and his father come in at her last moments, and they both proclaim their love for each other, before Violetta dies in Alfredo's arms.

Sad Opera, but it was beautiful, and we enjoyed it. It was pretty weird because most of the audience there was older than both of our ages combined. We felt so young. ;) I suggest that people go give Opera a try. (And before you ask, the reason I understood what happened was because there was a screen at the top with English subtitles.)

Well, now I have to get crankin' with my Shakespeare paper and the Economics paper. Ick...