Opera Chic buddy & Scala GM Stéphane Lissner, with his magnificent obsession for dress codes, would have pewpd his tailormade Frenchypants.
Because Opera Chic was watching an amazing Carlo Maria Giulini 1981 concert -- OC has for Maestro Giulini the kind of devotion that Catholics have for saints -- a truly transcendent Stabat Mater (Rossini), with the beloved maestro tall and gaunt and gawky and so handsome with his superlong arms, soaring with the music and singing along -- as he liked to do, a habit that would baffle us if it were not him -- with the huge Philharmonia chorus that obviously worshipped him (as they should btw).
And then the director cut to the audience & we saw the infidel:
a super-nerdy d00d in muttonchops & a Donkey Kong or Magilla Gorilla* or whatever T-SHIRT!!! "Prince Alberts"?
*(Opera Chic wasn't even born back then, giv it a rest)
Why oh why???!!!
For reals, man, you're getting out of the house to go listen to the greatest Stabat Mater like, ev4r -- couldn't you wear something really formal like a shirt? Shoes, even? (he was clearly wearing sandals). And LEAVE THAT BONG AT HOME!
Anyway: the music was otherworldy, and a radiant Katia Ricciarelli (OC is a fan) totally looked like a plumper happier Hannah Schygulla without the creepy Fassbinder moments.
And Giulini, well, Giulini...
A++++ WOULD WATCH /LISTEN TO AGAIN!!! AN ASSET!!!