Not such a bargain

Early last month, Katka and I* each bought an "NSO flexpass," entitling us to 3 concerts this fall for less than half price. At the time, I guess I didn't read the fine print on the deal:

Show this card in person at the Kennedy Center Box Office to redeem (not redeemable by phone or online). . . . Seating is not guaranteed at every concert and is subject to the availability of seats remaining...

Bummer!

• Either we go to the box office half an hour before the performance and risk being told that there aren't any seats left,
• Or one makes a special trip to the box office days (weeks?) before the performance to pick up the tickets.

And on closer inspection, the concerts being offered are not even very appealing:

October 10	WAGNER, Parsifal, Act III in concert
October 31	ENESCU, Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1
	BARBER Violin Concerto, Op. 14
	RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
November 7	BRITTEN Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
	SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107
	SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38, "Spring"
November 14	KODÁLY Suite from Háry János
	LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major
	PROKOFIEV Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet
December 5	MOZART Die Zauberflöte - Overture
	MOZART Violin Concerto No. 4, K. 218
	BRAHMS Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

I suppose I'll opt for Shostakovich and Schumann on November 7 (though the prospect of being subjected to Brittens "Variations" is likely to give me bad dreams for the next month) and Mozart and Brahms on December 5.  Goodness only knows what I'll do with the third ticket.

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* "Katka and I"?  Yep.  The wonderful wife, perhaps more perceptive than we were, passed on the deal.