Anna Netrebko Stalking Part Two

Since Anna Netrebko didn't stop for signatures and my plan was to get her to sign my mother's birthday card (yes, I would be the best daughter ever, sorry Ali and Mike), my roommates and I headed to the Opera Cafe to watch Anna Bolena again, but without the waiting in line and standing and with torte!

My Fliegende Höllander torte!

Although Netrebko snuck out another door, we did get Elizabeth Kulman's signature

As well as the beautiful Ildebrando D'Arcangelo!

Baden and Butterfly

Rachel and I took a trip to Baden today, aptly named "Bath" after the natural hot springs and thermal waters of the city. The likes of Beethoven used to travel there from Vienna for the natural healing powers of the water. We figure we are as cool as Beethoven.

On the short train ride there

The path to the city center from the train station in the cute little city.

Beautiful blooming trees!

Center of town

Baden Bahn!

Adorable!

Beethoven even had an apartment here, where he wrote the 9th!

Traditional Austrian lunch of Fiaker Goulasch outside the bathhouse

Gelato!

After the warm waters in Baden, we headed back to the city to catch Puccini's Madama Butterfly and afterward met Madama Butterfly herself, Fiorenza Cedolins, who gave us her card in case we ever wanted a lesson.

Lesson of the day: we really are as cool as Beethoven.

Another Day in the Life

This is what Vienna looked like today. Just thought you should know.

Anna Netrebko Stalking

Anna Netrebko is in Vienna. My mission: get her signature as a birthday gift for my mother. And also see her perform. Tonight was the opening night for the Wiener Staatsoper's first ever production of Donezetti's Anna Bolena since it was first played here back when the opera was composed. This is also the opera, in which she is opening the Metropolitan Opera's season come fall. This is a big deal to say the least. The Staatsoper pulled together an all star cast, with the Elina Garanca and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo playing opposite her.

We arrived several hours earlier than we normally do (3 hours) and were still well out the door and around the building waiting. We sat and sat for hours to get our standing room tickets.

Jess and Rachel waiting to get tickets

Once we got in I took some shots of the Staatsoper, seeing as I rarely bring my camera

Grand entry way

Home away from home

Curtain call after the fabulous performance. Netrebko is in the very center, D'Arcangelo is on her right and Garanca is on his right.

Waiting to get her signature!

But she made no stops, Erwin and her headed off to a glamorous party, I am sure.

Except she made one stop for an adorable old man who brought her flowers.

Chocolate Chip Elephants

It's my roommate Rachel's 21st birthday! To celebrate we got dressed up and went to Bangkok, the nice Thai restaurant by our place, and then came home for a special cake made by yours truly.

At Bangkok for Rachel's birthday dinner!

Pad Thai! Nom nom nom!

Happy Birthday!

When I asked Rachel what she wanted as a cake, she said funfetti or chocolate chip cookie cake, I know she loves elephants and music and her favorite color is blue. Hence the Rachel specific Elephant shaped cake, with a funfetti head and cookie cake ears, trunk, and tusks, topped with blue frosting musical notes and fermata eyes!

The tusk needed some help to keep from breaking

Love this cake!