By Karen Krett
Saturday, in the wake of Friday’s terror in Paris, I attended the Metropolitan Opera. It was to have been a lovely cultural event, to be shared with my daughter and grandson. And, in truth, it was that – but that was not the most salient part of the experience.
As soon as we all were seated, a hush came over the sold-out crowd. It was apparent that all the singers had quietly assembled on stage and, without any announcement (none was necessary), the audience joined some of the best voices in the world, led by Placido Domingo – who was also leading the orchestra. Together we sang La Marseillaise. We all stood. Those who did not know the words were assisted by an insert into the program. As one we sang, our hearts full, tears streaming down cheeks. When it was done, shouts of VIVE LA FRANCE! catapulted across the great Met space.
These were moments of the true spirit of humanity, in contrast to the heart-rending moments of the previous day’s descent into bestiality. We must be our better selves. And we must fight and do whatever we are called upon to do, in order to insure that the forces of evil do not prevail.
Allons! Vive l’humanité.
Originally published on Karen’s site Don’t Kill Your Neighbor.
Photo by Niall Kennedy. France clip art by GDJ.
No one could have captured that moment at the met like you.
I felt as if I was there, tears and all.
Love you
What a touching and lovely report on the very moving Metropolitan Opera gesture in support of the French. Thank you so much for this eyewitness account – a beautiful story that reminds us of the power of love and international solidarity in times of crisis.
La Marseillaise is, in my opinion, the loveliest of national anthems. And I very much appreciate the writer’s ability to capture what was one of those all too rare, incredible, poignant moments of life – especially one taking place in a citadel of Western culture. But what led to that special moment wasn’t an amorphous form of “evil” or a passive-voiced “terror in Paris”. The beauty of that moment was in response to an act of terror committed by Islamic extremists. And if we are, as the author implores, to “fight and do whatever we are called upon to do”, then we must start by at least not hiding the identify of the source of the evil expressed in Paris – not Muslims, but the extremists that act in their name. And make no mistake, their enemy isn’t confined to the innocent Parisians out on a beautiful Fall evening – it includes a Western culture that finds its expression in the Opera that was performed at Lincoln Center on the following night.
Yes, we must name the source of evil: Islamic extremists. Thank you, Paco.