Superb, magnificent, imposing.
Miles of red carpet running through countless steps until the entrance. On each side, another majestic building: twin cathedrals, French and German, surrounding the distinguished Gendarmenmarkt and proving that these nations can indeed live in harmony.
It was love at first sight. At that moment I knew I couldn't leave Berlin without first enjoying a concert at the Konzerthaus.
On my way to the ticket office, I tripped over a chair and nearly collapsed onto a poor guy - typical for a person who falls down standing still (yes, it's happened - just ask my coworkers). Sorry, excuse me, and a conversation begins. I learned that he was waiting for the ticket office to open to buy the same presentation as I, so we decided to go together.
The next day, we met at the front square and started the via crucis to the top of the stairs. I admired the old ladies who probably do this every week - I saw young people panting at the top (me? no... not at all...).
The hall is stunning. Busts of renowned composers adorned the walls, a colossal organ occupied the entire wall behind the stage, chandeliers glistened every detail of the scenery.
We sat in the front box, with excellent view to the orchestra. At least until a German gentleman politely pointed out that my friend's chair was actually his. We compared the tickets: both had the same seat number. I was preparing to bluster indignantly with such lack of organization, when we realized that my friend had bought the wrong date - Saturday, instead of Friday.
At that point, the lack of organization came in our favor - no one at the entrance realized it, or we'd have a much bigger problem to deal with. Luckily there were two empty seats ahead in an even better position, and we took them as our own.
The musicians entered the stage under claps and cheers from the audience. Shortly after, the conductor came in - and got a standing ovation. The orchestra began and the audience fell silent. At least until the end of the first act, when began what i like to call...
"Bipolar Throat Disorder".
This phenomenon, not yet researched by scientists, consists in absolute silence during each musical act followed by a profusion of incessant coughing - from the discreet until the most rheumy - in the brief pauses. It happened the same way in all five acts.
I couldn't understand: was everyone holding their breath and cough during all that time? Is this humanly possible? Or does sudden silence release a substance in the organism that stimulates the production of rheum?
Physicians and physiologists, help me out here!
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