Kalistan

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Empress attends New Year's Gala at National Opera House
Royal couple views Istalian Opera "La Tragedia Degli Dei"
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
January 2, 5704


Royal Couple at the National Opera House in Sulari this New Year's Eve

The Royal Couple spent their New Year's Eve this year in Sulari with Dame Alice Bjorksdattir and her fiancé Sulari Suns halfback Mark Castello. A very pregnant Empress Carolina II Ananto was accompanied by His Highness, the Prince Consort Elliot Rosenfeld as they attended the National Opera's presentation of the Istalian opera "La Trajedia Degli Dei" or "The Tragedy of the Gods". The attendance by Her Imperial Majesty made the even a social event for Sulari Society, and besides Dame Bjorksdattir, many Suldanoran peers and society women were present to greet Her Imperial Majesty.

"We so seldom see Her Imperial Majesty in Sulari," said Mrs. Catherine Winters, of Sulari. "I'm sure she is far more comfortable in Kaliburg, but having her here is a rare treat, and of course, tickets to this performance on New Year's Eve with the Empress in Attendance were a very hot commodity after it was announced that she would come in."

There was, in fact something of a scandal around the New Year's Even showing. As it was midweek, many of the seats on the floor are reserved for day of, box office sales. This is to allow people who do not usually attend the opera to have the opportunity to buy tickets for cut rates, first of all to fill the house, but second of all to ensure commoners access to high art. The Highbrow often pay extra for box seating, and the patrons of the Opera House naturally have box seating reserved for them. Despite the less expensive tickets on the Floor, there is still rarely above 90% attendance, so floor seating is usually fairly comfortable, while reserved boxes often go unfilled.

The announcement that the Empress would be attending however caused a bit of a run on general seating in the main floor area, and members of high Sulari society began complaining that either they couldn't get tickets because they had been sold out, or that those who did get floor tickets would have to sit next to commoners. So some of the well-heeled began attempting to purchase tickets from commoners who had bought them up. A secondary market opened up with normal floor seating being sold for many times what the tickets were actually worth, while others offered to trade their seats for seating blocs near their peers in the upper classes.

It created such a problem during the week before the performance that the National Opera House had to issue an advisory about counterfeit tickets, and finally decided that it would not honor secondary tickets that were held by those who did not originally purchase them. This caused a number of very angry complaints, mostly from those who had purchased them speculatively, and sought to make a profit from their purchase, and ultimately, amounted to many of the tickets not being redeemed by patrons in the floor sections.

"In fact," said Derek Randall of the National Opera House, "The New Year's Eve performance was sold out, but about a quarter of the house was empty, because a lot of people were not sure whether their tickets would even be honored. We ended up issuing refunds to only about 7 purchasers though, so we actually made pretty close to what we thought we would make anyway."

The National Opera House paused the show at 11:59pm, right in the middle of the 4th Act, to bring the House Lights up to countdown the arrival of the New Year in Sulari, and the whole crowd rang in the New Year together, after which point, the Istalian-Language opera finished. After it was over, the Opera House invited everyone to a reception, that included Champagne, light snacks and tea for the Empress. There she had the opportunity to meet Sulari's citizens, including the Lord Mayor Francisco Guillermo Diaz. The Empress also took the time to meet with the Commoners who remained after the event and attended the reception. Her Imperial Majesty fielded many questions about her pregnancy, and what her hopes were for the new year, and what her interests were, and she thrilled and delighted the people of the Free City. She even allowed herself to be photographed more than 45 times.

There was dancing, as the Sulari Chamber Orchestra played several waltzes for the Empress and Prince Consort, and when she wasn't dancing, she and Dame Bjorksdattir were often seen together chatting while the Prince Consort was spotted talking football stats with Mr. Castello. The New Year's Eve performance and New Year's celebration at the National Opera House is the last time until early April that Her Imperial Majesty will leave the Capital, and Bjorksdattir is planning to return with the Royal Couple to stay at Cliff House to help the Empress with her third trimester. Her Imperial Majesty is due in Mid March. "I'm gonna be an awesome Aunt!" she declared when questioned about her excitement around her friend's pregnancy. "I'm so excited for the Empress, I can't even put it into words. I'm gonna be there to help get the nursery ready, and to help pick out baby clothes and the throw the baby shower! All the fun stuff. It's gonna be a blast."

Another year safely in the books, Her Imperial Majesty is very optimistic for the new year. She and the Prince Consort both agreed that this year would be a year of firsts for the Royal Family, and there is so much to look forward to. We wish them, and all the people of Kalistan, a Happy New Year!

@LaModa