First I have to say, that I am "in love" with José Carreras for over 10 years but never have been to any of his concerts. That's why everything was all the more exciting for me.

When I found out Jose Carreras was coming to Munich, I immediately got a ticket. I live at the Lake Constance, so Munich is not far away. I wanted to get the best ticket but they were sold out. So I got the second best - just on the left side of the stage.

I left Austria and drove slowly towards Munich with over 3 hours to spare. In Munich I got in a panic: pouring rain, completely dark, not familiar with the place. A service station attendant gave me the wrong directions so I found myself on the highway to Salzburg! I should have orientated myself to his non-existent knowledge of German, instead of believing in the quality of his description. I broke out in sweat! After circling around like mad, I finally drove towards Gasteig where I noticed, no parking spaces in sight. So I had several hundred meters still to walk and only 15 minutes left till the start of the Gala.

Usually I hate any kind of sports, I never watch matches on TV and would never move more than I have to. But at this moment, knowing no time left, I started to run like an Olympian sprinter out of the blocks (it is amazing what energy can be mobilized from such stress situations). After some minutes, my hair, fixed beautifully by the hairdresser, was hanging in my face, the make-up was smeared by the rain and my nose was running.

Out of breath I stumbled into the Hall. A man walked straight up to me: "Do you have a ticket?" "Of course!" Nervously I searched my handbag "My Goodness, where is it? Where is it?" and just before my heart stopped beating, I found it: "Here!" He looked at it... and looked at it. I kept looking at the time and finally said: "Something wrong with the ticket? I am late". "How much did it cost?" "200 Mark, why?" "Will you take 100?" "Ha?" Now I understood: That was not the doorman that tears the tickets, he wanted to buy my ticket! I snatched it "Give me my ticket back, you jerk!" and was admitted at the last second.

My seat was great. A little moved, right over the stage. As soon as I was finished loudly blowing my nose, there was Jose. I was spellbound and mesmerized!

I ignored the ban on taking pictures and took a few. But for most of the time I just sat there captivated and watched this handsome man who was even more beautiful in person than on any picture I had seen. Whose voice is even more lyrical than television or recordings could ever do it justice. Whose charisma is a thing in itself, whose smile knows no age, whose passion was felt by every person in the room. All the stress and grief, these hours were worth it!

During the break I sat alone on the steps and was hoping to meet him personally. I smoked 1-2 (or maybe 5) cigarettes and went back in. I took a few more photos and then something happened, that took my breath away!

José turned around with a definite posture towards me and looked lovingly into my eyes! That lasted about 3 seconds. Even the lady next to me asked me if I knew Mr. Carreras personally. I felt like I was hypnotized. Jose looked at me. Me! I thought no matter what happened, he will remember me... this is a sign! Whatever it means, it is a sign!

A few days later, as I got my feet back on the ground (as we say in German), it was like somebody had switched on the light! I put two and two together and suddenly I knew why José looked at me that way. I was looking back: A few minutes later an usher came to me and said: "Please stop taking pictures of Mr. Carreras! He feels disturbed by the never ending camera flashes!"

This discovery was sobering. That was no "loving" but a "warning" look!

After this I did not think anymore "I hope he will remember me" but only "I hope he has already forgotten me".