Cheapskate's Guide to the Finer Things in Life
What a deal: I paid $25 for a front-row seat for Joshua Bell
If you’re a classical music lover like me, you simply cannot deprive yourself of the opportunity this weekend to hear violinist Joshua Bell play the most heavenly music on his priceless Stradivarius with the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall.
Speaking of prices — which I do, quite frequently, as one with champagne tastes and a beer budget — wait 'til you hear the amazing deal I got on my ticket. I paid only $25 for a seat in the front row, where I sat Friday night, practically on top of the stage, within feet of my hero. Unbelievable!
Of course, my top priority was to get as close as I could to optimally hear this talented artist’s marvelous music, but I must admit, it doesn’t hurt that Bell is definitely easy on the eyes, as well as the ears. He looked as adorably boyish and handsome as ever in his classic black shirt and pants, his beautifully coiffed hair flying as he energetically wielded his bow, closed his eyes, and melded with the music. Clearly blessed with a unique artistic gift, combined with his dedication to continually perfect his craft, Bell beautifully played Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64, with his own original cadenzas.
What’s even more unbelievable is that I’ve been attending classical music concerts at various Houston venues for decades, but I just found out about these incredibly cheap HSO front-row seats.
I knew HSO offered some very low-cost tickets, but I always assumed they were all way up in the nosebleed section, under the rafters with the pigeons and the potential to sit near some novice concertgoer who feels inexplicably compelled to cough, flap his program pages as he tries to read in the dark during the concert, and sometimes even “conducts” the music (Why, Lord, Why?) Some people are just born entertainers, I guess.
However, I prefer to hear the ones performing on the stage, as clearly as possible, so that’s why I always ask for an orchestra-level seat, about midway toward the front. Normally, it’s optimal to sit “front and center” at a concert in Jones Hall, to have a full view of the orchestra and to hear the music properly. That’s going to cost you well over the $25 I paid last night. But it all depends on your objective.
For this particular concert, I just wanted to sit as close as possible to Bell. When I described my goal to the customer service representative over the phone, I was offered this ultra-cheap seat in Orchestra Row A. I asked how I could possibly get such a great deal, and the response was that “some people don’t like to crane their necks” during a concert, as you do have to look up. I figured, for Bell, I could crane my neck ad infinitum.
I was right. In fact, I only had to crane my neck a bit to see and hear Bell in all his glory. I spent an hour in heaven, watching him play, and I still feel as if I’m walking on clouds today. (He performs again Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.)
Now that I know about these ultra-cheap seats, I may have to buy a front-row ticket for another HSO concert sometime soon.
OK, so maybe it won’t be Joshua Bell next time -- but what economically minded music lover, equipped with a reasonably flexible neck, could resist an amazing deal like this?
