I went to the Met Opera in the Park event last night in Central Park. The opera was Gounod’s Faust. The weather was too cold to stay for the entire opera, but I made it through the first three acts.

One thing that was both bad and nice about watching the opera in Central Park (opposed to in Lincoln Center) is that there are no subtitles. So, if you aren’t fluent in French (like me), you just have to sit there and let the music and words wash over you, instead of trying to actively follow the dialog and plot with subtitles. It’s a double-edged sword because you’re less engaged as an audience member, but in some ways, it’s also more enjoyable.

I think the best part of the night was just spending time outside eating nice food, listening to music, and not worrying about anything (except the Red Sox score, which I checked a few times on my phone). It’s a beautiful event, and I’m certain I’ll take advantage of it next summer.