Puccini meets SF Giants: Tosca at the Ballpark

Going to the opera for free, wearing a leather or ski jacket, respectively? It's all possible, or it was, rather: Last night, at a Simulcast of Tosca from the San Francisco Opera at AT&T Park, home of the SF Giants.

Thousands of San Franciscans came and enjoyed Picnic, Puccini and a gorgeous evening sky. Music and video came in High Definition live from the War Memorial Opera House, and we kept thinking that our Tosca night was even better than that of the opera house visitors: No opera seat in the world is as soft as a Major League Baseball lawn, and there's no flock of seagulls at the opera, majestically orbitting the scene at the dramatically most perfect moment. We sat in Barry Bond's sweat, drank Italian red wine and were mesmerized by the arresting fate of Tosca, Cavaradossi and Baron Scarpia.

During curtain call the singers sent special greetings to the stadium and displayed variuos SF Giants gear while taking their bows. Must have looked a little odd to the guests at the opera house, but was applauded frenetically at the ballpark. Bravissimo!

All pictures here