Last night I was at Tannhauser at the Royal Opera House. I am currently in the middle of writing about the substantive matter, including several utterances of words like 'amazing' and 'awesome'. Even though the effect was partly the result of the cumulative awesomeness of three acts, nevertheless I emerged from Act I in a heightened emotional state, somewhat akin to tripping. Just about everyone I have discussed this with, in person or online, is full of praise.
Within inches of the auditorium, moments after the curtain descended on a stunning Act I, I heard a conversation between two people. Their accents were those of people who seem to think that mangled vowels makes them sound grander than could be achieved by use of mere thoughts or vocabulary.
Woman: "Must dry clean your green jacket sometime"
Man: "What"
Woman: "Your green jacket sometime"
Man: "What"
Woman: "Green jacket before Christmas."
It sent my brain reeling. The quotidien can always seem like a comedown, but I fully accept that comments along the line of "I'm going to the loo/we must pick up our drinks/I'm meeting Fred on the terrace" are part and parcel of interval life in any cultural event.
Not only did she sit there during the incredible music thinking about the dry-cleaning, but at the first opportunity she felt compelled to share the results of her wandering mind.
I know that people get frazzled at Christmas. Maybe I can even imagine a situation where the wife is there under sufferance at the husband's behest, when she would rather be at home stuffing mushrooms.
But if you can't compartmentalise and insist on thinking about the dry-cleaning during Wagner, I'd really rather you didn't share. And if you have to share, please not in such stentorian tones. Is it showing off? Trying to prove to those around you that you are so marvellous? Because it really doesn't work!
