{"id":19744,"date":"2016-04-09T23:24:09","date_gmt":"2016-04-10T03:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/babakaps.net\/?p=19744"},"modified":"2024-06-26T02:50:06","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T06:50:06","slug":"apr-9-16-the-opera-madam-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/?p=19744","title":{"rendered":"APR 9, 16 .. THE OPERA .. MADAM BUTTERFLY"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a saying in-the-rooms that goes as follows :<\/p>\n

If you hang around the barber shop long enough sooner-or-later you are going to get a haircut.<\/p>\n

Ulaanbaatar has an absolutely magnificent\u00a0Opera House.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I have posted many photos of it in prior Posts. In order to have this Post stand-on-its-own I will show you views of the Ulaanbaatar\u00a0Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>from Chinggis Khaan Square and from areas that surround this enormous square in the heart of downtown Ulaanbaatar.<\/p>\n

As you can see below .. the\u00a0Opera House is pink!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I will begin with several views of the\u00a0Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>as it is seen from a distance. This photo shows it as viewed from the South side of Peace Avenue. Chinggis Khaan Square is (not visible) to the left in the below photo.\"DSCN8792[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the above photo if you pan to your left you will see the below view of Chinggis Kaan Square.
\n\"DSCN5228[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN5907[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8759[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8266[1]\"<\/a>Chinggis Khaan Square to the left above and below.
\n\"DSCN5921[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>as seen from Chinggis Khaan Square.\"DSCN4448[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN4449[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN4457[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN5913[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN4456[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8269[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8454[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Excuse me Cap, may I interrupt you here?” ..<\/p>\n

“Of course ‘Zilla. No problem.” ..<\/p>\n

“At the top of the post you said and I quote you :\u00a0‘There is a saying in-the-rooms that goes as follows :\u00a0If you hang around the barber shop long enough, sooner-or-later you are going to get a haircut.’<\/p>\n

(1)\u00a0What does this saying mean and ..<\/p>\n

(2) What has it got to do with the Ulaanbaatar\u00a0Opera House?<\/strong><\/span>” ..<\/p>\n

“It never fails ‘Zilla! Another great ‘Zilla-question!”<\/p>\n

(1) If you continue to hang around a bar sooner-or-later you are going to pick-up-a-drink.<\/p>\n

(2) This applies to the Ulaanbaatar\u00a0Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>as follows. Lately my number one primary location to meet members who are going to take me to a meeting to speak has been at the Opera House.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Because I have been speaking at quite a few meetings, I have been going to the Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>a lot. So in a very real sense-of-the-word I have been hanging around<\/em><\/span> the Opera House<\/strong><\/span>.”<\/p>\n

Now you are going to see what happened to me because<\/em> I have been hanging around<\/em><\/span> the\u00a0Opera House<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I wait on the curb between the lions for my driver to pick-me-up.
\n\"DSCN8454[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8457[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8270[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Now stay-with-me ‘Zilla!<\/p>\n

God’s Truth ‘Zilla. Last Sunday I was going to speak at a meeting. I got to the Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>early to be sure that my driver did not have to circle-around-the-block which is very difficult because of the traffic. Because I was about 20-minutes early, to pass-some-time, I looked around the\u00a0Opera House.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Had I not been hanging-around the\u00a0Opera House\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>the below series of events would never have happened.<\/p>\n

In this instance nothing negative (such as hanging out at a bar and picking-up a drink) happened. It would be a good thing to hang-out at meetings. It would be a good thing to hang-out at your local athletic club. ‘Hanging-out’ does not have to be a negative thing ‘Zilla. Go hang-out at the arena and watch the Kings or the Reigns skate.<\/p>\n

“Hum-m-m? \u00a0What is that door over there with a red sign above it with a bulletin board or something beside it?”\u00a0\"DSCN8647[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“I think that I will walk over and check-it-out.”\"DSCN8642[1]\"<\/a>It’s a ticket office.
\n\"DSCN8646[1]\"<\/a>With a schedule of up-coming events.
\n\"DSCN8641[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Oh My!<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0Will you just look at that! MADAM BUTTERFLY<\/em><\/span> next weekend! SWAN LAKE<\/em><\/span> the 24th! CARMEN<\/em><\/span> the 30th!”<\/p>\n

“This is unbelievable! ”\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“I have some time\u00a0to spare!\u00a0I am going to go inside and check this out!”\"DSCN8643[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Do you speak English?” ..<\/p>\n

“May I see a seating chart?” ..<\/p>\n

“Have you a center seat in the front row of the balcony for MADAM BUTTERFLY next Saturday the 9th?”<\/p>\n

“Will this do Sir<\/em><\/span>? A center seat in the front row of the balcony for next Saturday’s performance of MADAM BUTTERFLY.”\"DSCN8716[1]\"<\/a>“You .. have .. got .. to .. be .. kidding .. me! ” .. <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“I may put my head down and weep with gratitude!”<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There is a saying : “If you have to ask the price you can’t afford it!”<\/p>\n

“I .. will .. take .. it ..!” ..<\/p>\n

“That will be 15,000\u00a0\u20ae <\/span><\/strong>\/ US $ 7.36. Here is your ticket. Enjoy the performance Sir.”
\n\"DSCN8696[1]\"<\/a>Above .. year 2016 .. 4th month .. 9th day .. 17oo hours ..<\/p>\n

Below .. Balcony Section D .. Row D-1 .. Seat 15 ..
\n\"DSCN8697[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Can you imagine! I requested my number one seat choice and I got it. Front row balcony .. Looking down .. No one in front of me. Front and center. For seven US $ and thirty six cents.<\/p>\n

I was at the opera house so that I could be picked up and driven to a meeting. \u00a0If there had been no meeting .. There would have been no opera .. maybe ever. I just happened to be very early. Usually my drivers are earlier than I am so I have never had to wait at all. Last Sunday I was\u00a0so early that I had time to look-around.<\/p>\n

For this reason I am going to include the meeting into this Post.<\/p>\n

The opera is a good thing. The opera is pleasurable.<\/p>\n

Now I am going to ‘ratchet-things-up’ into another dimension!<\/p>\n

You and your understatements Captain! .. Why not tell them to ‘fasten their seat belts’ Captain? .. Oh committee in my head do you ever shut-up?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n

“I need to get back out front so that I can meet my ride and get to the meeting!”<\/p>\n

We are at the meeting location ..\"DSCN8492[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8491[1]\"<\/a>Down the steps .. Left through the door ..
\n\"DSCN8490[1]\"<\/a>The house is full. Everyone is waiting for you. We have a seat for you up front.\"DSCN8493[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“I need to make a quick trip to the bathroom.”<\/p>\n

“No problem. Go through the door on the other side and then go left. Watch your head.”
\n\"DSCN8497[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8520[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I thought to myself .. “What do the ladies do?”\u00a0\"DSCN8521[1]\"<\/a>Then I saw exactly what the ladies do. The ladies climb up there and squat.<\/p>\n

“Watch your head! Some of the pipes can be very hot<\/em><\/span>.”
\n\"DSCN8525[1]\"<\/a>Time to stand and deliver Captain!<\/p>\n

“Thank you so much for inviting me here to your meeting. It is an honor and a pleasure to be here. I first came to Ulaanbaatar last July 16th to 19th with a group of seven members to host a weekend conference. All of the other members left Ulaanbaatar on July the 20th. I remained. I really enjoy<\/em> being here. I have adopted a Mongolian name. \u0425\u0410\u0410\u041d \u0411\u0410\u0410\u0422\u0410\u0420\u00a0.. “<\/p>\n

The two-hour meeting ran overtime. We began at 4pm and left at 7:30pm.<\/p>\n

Beginning with the venue itself .. It was \u00a0i n t e n s e<\/em> ..<\/p>\n

It was \u00a0v e r y \u00a0 i n t e n s e<\/em> ..<\/p>\n

Without exception every meeting that I\u00a0have been to since last July 2015 has been intense<\/em> .. yes very intense<\/em>.<\/p>\n

“Man-O-Manischewitz .. After that meeting I could eat-a-horse!”
\n\"DSCN8538[1]\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What a day Sunday April the 3rd was. I got my ticket to see MADAM BUTTERFLY. I chaired a very long intense meeting. I had a nice dinner.<\/p>\n

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n

Today is Saturday the 9th of April 2016. Here we go loop de loop .. Here we go loop de li ..<\/p>\n

Those who drive their automobile to the opera can park in Chinggis Khaan Square. Parking availability seems to be quite adequate.\"DSCN8702[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8703[1]\"<\/a>You just know that I had to squeeze in The Blue Sky Hotel and Tower<\/em><\/span>.
\n\"DSCN8704[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Yes! I hear you Blue Sky<\/em><\/span>! I agree with you Blue Sky<\/em><\/span>. You don’t DO being squeezed in as an after thought do you?”\"DSCN8758[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The time has come to go inside the Ulaanbaater\u00a0Opera House.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You enter the ticket office lobby ..
\n\"DSCN8644[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then you enter the house lobby.<\/p>\n

Looking left ..\"DSCN8706[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking directly ahead. In each of these photos you can see the stairs leading up to the balcony ..\"DSCN8705[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking right ..\"DSCN8707[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Up we go to the balcony ..\"DSCN8708[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We are now up in the balcony.<\/p>\n

For lack of a better word there is a Ring of Honor displaying many framed photographs of individuals.\"DSCN8710[1]\"<\/a>The white entry doors into The House may be seen in the above photo to the left and to the right.
\n\"DSCN8711[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8712[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I am looking at the beautiful balcony lobby. The above Ring of Honor is to my back.
\n\"DSCN8709[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking past the piano you see above.\"DSCN8747[1]\"<\/a>The Ring of Honor from the above balcony lobby.\"DSCN8742[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A beautiful mural. Do you see the Ring of Honor in the background to the right.\"DSCN8740[1]\"<\/a>The mural on the other side of the balcony lobby.\"DSCN8743[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Walk across to the curtains on the far side of the balcony lobby.\"DSCN8746[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pull them aside and snap the below photos of Chinggis Khaan Square as seen from the second floor of the Opera House<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0.
\n\"DSCN8739[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DSCN8738[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8741[1]\"<\/a>The time has come the Walrus said for us to enter The House.<\/p>\n

Here is my seat. 1st row balcony front-and-center.
\n\"DSCN8716[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking to my left at house left.
\n\"DSCN8717[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking to my right at house right.\"DSCN8718[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Below I am looking back at my seat from house left. I am sitting in front of the couple you see below.\"DSCN8720[1]\"<\/a>Looking back at my seat from house right.
\n\"DSCN8726[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Photos of the Orchestra Pit ..<\/p>\n

The first two photos below show the Orchestra Pit as seen from my seat ..\"DSCN8728[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8734[1]\"<\/a>The following two photos look down from house right.\"DSCN8723[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8724[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I am very impressed with the facilities. Top notch first drawer.
\n\"DSCN8727[1]\"<\/a>Looking down from house left.\"DSCN8719[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Several photos showing the house as it was filling.\"DSCN8725[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8721[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8733[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Look up Captain! Look up!”\"DSCN8730[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“The performance is scheduled to begin at 5:00pm. It is time to sit and relax. Look the program over.”
\n\"DSCN8807[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I know the story. I don’t like the story. The story is gut-wrenching sad. Do you like the story of poor MADAM BUTTERFLY?<\/p>\n

When I bought my ticket I KNEW<\/em> that I was leaving at the intermission.
\n\"DSCN8808[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Oh Good God! Now you tell us Captain! Why on earth did you even go to MADAM BUTTERFLY?”<\/p>\n

I went to see<\/em><\/span> the\u00a0Opera House!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I went to see<\/em><\/span> ‘The Ulaanbaatar Opera Scene’ ..<\/p>\n

I went to experience<\/em><\/span> ‘The Venue and the Action’ ..<\/p>\n

I went because<\/em><\/span> .. It’s What I Do!<\/p>\n

The performance began at 5:04pm.<\/p>\n

As is normal .. As is always the case .. No photography is allowed. Such signs are posted in theaters every where. It is also stated in theater programs everywhere.<\/p>\n

Like many (if not most) people I push the envelope. Accordingly I did my utmost to snap a few photos. This entire Post is better because of the three photos below. Without them I feel that the Post would really be missing that special ‘something’.\u00a0\"DSCN8735[1]\"<\/a>The language of the opera is Italian.
\n\"DSCN8736[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8737[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This has never ever happened to me. I found it interesting. I took the above three photos spread out over perhaps twenty minutes. Each time I looked carefully for ushers. As I was setting up to shoot a fourth photo a pencil thin, blinking, red-laser light<\/span><\/em> was beamed precisely<\/em><\/span> at my camera. I put my camera down. I waited awhile. I tried again. Same result. I put my camera away for good. No words were spoken. I did not look back at any usher. I sure got-the-message.<\/p>\n

It is now intermission time. The below photos were taken in the downstairs main lobby.
\n\"DSCN8749[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8750[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8751[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8752[1]\"<\/a>There .. was .. a .. lot .. of .. alcohol .. served .. and .. imbibed .. wine and the hard-stuff .. no one was unruly ..
\n\"DSCN8755[1]\"<\/a>The below area served the non-drinkers .. compare above with below .. Hum-m-m ..
\n\"DSCN8756[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8757[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Even as I was buying my ticket I had my plan. I was going to\u00a0leave at \/ or just after the intermission. There was no possible way that I was going to see the second part of MADAM BUTTERFLY.<\/p>\n

I even KNEW<\/em> that I was ..<\/p>\n

(1) Going to go to one of my favorite restaurants downtown and<\/p>\n

(2) I was going to eat at Millie’s<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0and<\/p>\n

(3) I was going to call Patti to visit and then say good-night to her.<\/p>\n

I worked my plan to perfection.<\/p>\n

The air was nice! So too was the scenery.
\n\"DSCN5919[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s about a fifteen maybe twenty-minute walk from the\u00a0Opera House\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>over to\u00a0Millie’s<\/strong><\/span>.
\n\"DSCN8370[1]\"<\/a>
\n\"DSCN8322[1]\"<\/a>MY favorite table was ready-and-waiting for me.\"DSCN8350[1]\"<\/a>“Hi Daniel My Main Man!”\"DSCN8579[1]\"<\/a>“This evening I will have the chicken burritos please.”\"DSCN8776[1]\"<\/a>I swear to God that I just began to cough looking at the salsa<\/em><\/span>.
\n\"DSCN8778[1]\"<\/a>“Yes indeed Daniel I will have a piece of your chocolate cake this evening.”
\n\"DSCN8786[1]\"<\/a>Below are the remains of the top and the end of the cake. Read: Basically Only Chocolate Icing!\"DSCN8789[1]\"<\/a>“What else is new Captain?”\"DSCN8790[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Yes indeed .. A promise made to myself is a debt unpaid. I called Patti and we had a nice visit and good-night. It was about 1:50am in Anchorage Alaska.<\/p>\n

Time to catch a Number 1 back to my apartment. I love .. I just love the new articulated-configuration buses here in Ulaanbaatar! I am also loving daylight savings time.
\n\"DSCN5062[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I even got a seat!<\/p>\n

I thought to myself .. “What an absolutely perfect outstanding day this has been. How could it have possibly been any better!”<\/p>\n

“Argggh .. Well hello there my friend.”\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“On my perfect day?” .. “Is this a joke God?” .. “It is NOT April Fools’Day God!”<\/p>\n

“Wash urr name and whereufrom?”
\n\"DSCN8804[1]\"<\/a>“Have you been drinking!”<\/p>\n

“Oh For God’s Sakes Captain .. Talk about one of your sillier rhetorical questions!”..<\/p>\n

“Do you mind if I snap another photo of you my good man?”\"DSCN8795[1]\"<\/a>“How nice! You have a friend. You have a buddy with you!” .. “Have the two of you been drinking together?”
\n\"DSCN8806[1]\"<\/a>You have all classes of drunks here in Ulaanbaatar. Some of them are really mean and ill-of-spirit. These drunks are dangerous. These drunks are in fact are very dangerous.
\n\"DSCN8802[1]\"<\/a>Then once-in-awhile .. From time-to-time .. You run-into some good friendly call them silly-drunks.\"DSCN8794[1]\"<\/a>By the time it came for me to get off the bus the entire populace of our section was smiling and appreciative of how .. For just this one time .. I was handling the situation.\u00a0\"DSCN8799[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Yep! A perfect day!”<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“What’s that you say God?” .. “You are very proud of how I handled myself?” .. “Awesome .. Totally Awesome God!”<\/p>\n

With Joy ..\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Captain\u00a0\u0425\u0410\u0410\u041d\u0411\u0410\u0410\u0422\u0410\u0420 (Kan Baatar) ..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is a saying in-the-rooms that goes as follows : If you hang around the barber shop long enough sooner-or-later you are going to get a haircut. Ulaanbaatar has an… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[162,308,337,1184],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-day-in-the-life","category-meetings-program-activities","category-opera","category-ulaanbaatar-2016"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19744"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62527,"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19744\/revisions\/62527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babakaps.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}