The evening is cool but uncharacteristically warm for January and after only a dozen outfit changes, she settles for a blazer and a pair of slimming black pants.

The drive into the city is relatively uneventful and with trepidation, she heads towards the Lincoln Center with her sisters.

It’s a beautiful venue, a mix of modern and traditional architecture. Glimmering lights from the fountain mesmerizes the crowds as they wait for the doors to open.

Turandot- one of the few shows left in the season for Giacomo Puccini’s beloved classic.

Pretty soon, throngs of people line up at the door. Ball gowns, suits, jeans-people from all sorts of backgrounds gather for an evening of opulent entertainment.

Parts of their party saunter in and lines up and she waits anxiously for the last two of their group to join.

She sees him and his friend after a moment-dashing in his well fitted beige suit. She wonders for a brief moment why she hasn’t found him so handsome before but the moment passes and all too soon they are headed up the winding staircases lined in plush red carpet.

The crystal modern chandeliers twinkle majestically as they are flanked on both sides by towering Chagall murals. Gold gilded accents and the indescribable scent of luxury shines through the space.

It’s all together magical.

Their seats are at the very top of the large auditorium, close enough that the gold gilded ceilings are within an arm’s reach.

But when the music starts, the sound is beautifully rich-it’s true, she muses, there’s truly no bad seat in the opera.

That is, no bad seat  where the music isn’t obscured by an overhang.

In the nosebleeds, the sound waves bounce right off the ceiling back at them and it’s overwhelming.

The singing, the theatrics, the costumes and the sets! Oh the sets are too incredible to put into words and the time passes all too quickly.

During the intermissions, she wonders the bars on the balcony level and revels at the sight. The night is lovely and they snap a few photos.

The evening comes to an end all too soon.

But she’s determined to come back.

And she does.

Nearly a month later, she finds herself sitting in a box with her two sisters.

It’s a double bill, Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci.

The music is even more beautiful than before, especially the famous Intermezzo and she’s moved to tears.

She doesn’t even wander the amazing grounds of the opera house during the intermission-she’s anxious for the show to continue.

And Pagliacci is even more entertaining than the show previous (although she must admit, the music from Cavalleria is more touching).

Opera.

There’s a reason why it’s so highly regarded.