Dear, dear readers,
I’ve had terrible experiences with meeting heroes before. It can be kind of earth shattering. Sarah Vowell has said that she doesn’t understand why people would want to meet their musical heroes; the kind of music she listens to is not made by people you’d want to have a beer with. When I met Jonathan Franzen at the New Yorker Festival last fall, I was slightly put off, even after I coaxed him into talking about his relationship with his typewriter. When I met Kurt Vonnegut after a lecture, standing outside puffing on a cigarette in all his wonderful decrepitude, I was too shy and uncertain to say a single word. I just shook his hand and let my friend do the talking.
Despite these bad experiences and those of others, I still have the urge to go talk to the people I admire when I see them. Tonight, I am glad I did. The title of this post is a reference to one Glass family whom I love, and tonight I interacted with another Glass family.
I attended the Met premiere of Satyagraha, which I will be reviewing later this week for the Spec. The opera, penned in 1979 by Philip Glass, tells the story of Gandhi’s early years as a peaceful organizer in South Africa. The opera was visually stunning, but you can read about that in my review. I wondered whether the composer was present, but was more excited to see his second cousin.
A friend who was at the opera with her parents came rushing up to me and pointed out Ira Glass, the host of public radio’s Peabody-winning This American Life. I introduced myself and hopefully threw in a good word about my internship application. I was completely undisappointed.
He stood tall and handsome, dressed in an impeccably matched shirt-tie-suit combo and was everything I ever wanted him to be. That’s a tall order, considering all the time I’ve spent with his voice. I’ve told my suitemates that if they ever hear a male voice emanating from my room and I’m not getting laid, chances are the voice belongs to Ira. It’s always funny to meet your heroes and see that they are real people. Have any of you met a personal hero or role model? Please post your anecdotes!
Much love,
Ginia
not only did you see the opera that i’m dying to see (only the tickets outside of my price range are left), but you met ira himself. i am jealous.
from,
your friend. (the friend who says he reads the commentariat, &c)
Said jealous,
On April 12, 2008 at 1:19 pm:
You can still get day-of standing room tickets. Just be on the Met’s website or at the Met box office at 10 AM the day of the performance, and you can get a spot in the standing room for $15-20. It’s one of the last great performing arts deals in town, and a last chance to snag some of the hotter tickets in town.
Said Armin Rosen,
On April 12, 2008 at 2:09 pm:
the game is up, nishant! definitely get standing room tickets if you can. this one’s worth seeing.
Said Ginia Sweeney,
On April 12, 2008 at 5:34 pm: