September 18, 2013 Walter Klingler & Stephen Boydstun go to Kennedy Center to see Tristan und Isolde

We got up early and took Amtrak to Washington, D.C.  We had tickets for Tristan und Isolde performed by the Washington National Opera Chorus and Opera Orchestra at The Kennedy Center.
We arrived at our hotel prior to check-in so we left

our bags and went to the Smithsonian.  It was a beautiful, clear day, a bit warm, but we made our way around enjoying the gardens until it was time to check-in.  We decided on a large late lunch eliminating the need for

dinner since the opera started at 6:30 p.m.  I relaxed in the room while Stephen went to the pool.
We took the metro and shuttle bus to The Kennedy Center and made out way to the first row of the first tier...most excellent seats!   Deborah Voigt was initially scheduled in the role of Isolde but she cancelled two weeks prior to the performance and was replaced by the Swedish soprano Irene Theorin.  Tristan was performed by Ian Storey.  Stephen and I spent the next 4.5 hours engrossed in Wagner's lush love triangle which ends with a stage full of dead bodies while Isolde concludes the opera with her final multi-orgasmic "Liebestod".

We made it back to the hotel bar just in time for Last Call.  I had my top shelf gin martini with three olives on the side (they take up so much room in such a little glass, don't you think?) and Stephen had his ice cream dessert.  We got up to our room, exhausted after such a long day, and crashed!