36 Years Ago

36 Years Ago, Vienna 1971—A Student Journal

Day 223: Don’t be rude

36yearsago.com

Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing & friends.



Day 223 — Don’t be rude
12-March-1972 (Sonntag–Sun.)


TRANSCRIPT

Anna_Moffo_Portrait_as_Violetta

Some practicing earlier.

It snowed last night—what happened to spring?

Saw a recital by Anna Moffet—excellent. Except that a bunch of “childish” Austrians were making somewhat more noise. They thought they were better. Anyway, being myself, I let them know how stupid they were, and I did very well. My German was sufficient to have a real good argument—of course, I was in the right. All people around would have agreed with me. However, they [the noisemakers] didn’t seem to realize it. Too bad.

A nice little event happened. After intermission, I sat in a seat, and the family in front turned out to be Americans—very nice. There was this little girl (1st, 2nd grade), very cute and who was acting very nice. Like children, however, she was looking around and I smiled somewhat at her. So, in a very cute, but shy manner, she kneeled in the chair facing me (eyes wide open and cute expression) and was glancing very slowly from my left to right (like a cinematic
pan). Of course, I knew whom the curiosity was directed to; and when her eyes and head in that moment faced me, I said, “Hi…!” Slow and long. After her initial little surprise, we had a very nice conversation with her father (they came from Colorado), until we said goodbye at the end of the concert. Only disappointment was that I really didn’t get to talk at all with their nice looking [older] daughter. Looked friendly. Well, as Ing. [Engineer] Helmut G. would say, “That’s life.”


REFLECTIONS

Being rude. Looks like I politely told off some rude audience members in German. Good for me. I don’t like rude people and I’m certain they deserved it. Today, I start in standing room (where the few noisy audience members were) and then move to an empty seat after intermission, where I meet an American family on vacation. Tourists usually don’t do standing room.

All you need is a smile. The best way to forget about rude people is to have a conversation with a polite family and have their charming little princess smile at you. A pleasant way to end the concert.

Anna Moffo. Anna Moffo was a top coloratura operatic soprano, singing lead roles in the top opera houses of the world. Tonight, I am seeing her in recital, what a treat. The opening picture of Moffo is an autographed photo from 1965 (Wikimedia Commons, copyrighted).

Links:

Anna Moffo in Wikipedia

Here is an interesting vintage video of Anna Moffo in Madame Butterfly (YouTube)


John

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