“Upon my word,” exclaims La Cieca (pictured at right, in the background), “I could almost swear I see a few empty seats on the other side of theater for the Met’s opening night performance of L’elisir d’amore!”

Since those laggards back in the salon are too busy munching marrons glacés or whatever they do when decent people are listening to the opera, La Cieca will share this bit of news with you. A block of tickets in the orchestra section for the aforementioned gala performance have just gone on sale for as low as $145, and there are a few scattered seats elsewhere in the house as well.