The Three Tenors in the Pension Fund Gala at the Met was a real 'event'.

Domingo's voice sound big and plangent in Act 2 of Chenier. He really has no wobble, and no signs of age in his voice. The top is still a bit of a stretch for him, but he acquitted himself nobly. However, there were four different key adjustments in about five minutes of music to accommodate him in the 'Credi al destino'.

The orchestra lowered the key just before he got near the place with the first Bbs- 'Credi all' amor Chenier, tu sei amato.' Then they raised it back up to key during Rocher's small sole, and then they lowered it again when Chenier reprises the theme that culminates in the Bbs again. I personally think they would have been better just leaving the entire section lowered, rather then have to change an extra two times.

The 'Ora soave' duet was sung in key, and Domingo did sing a Bb at the end.

All in all, his voice was the strongest of the three tenors.

It was a very emotional scene when Jose Carreras arrived on stage for the last act of Carmen. At first the applause greeting him started softly, and then snowballed into a show stopping ovation. I know he was genuinely moved, as were many in the audience, and the flashbulbs were going off like fireworks.

His singing began a bit tentatively, but he quickly warmed to the task, and poured out the voice and emotion of the part full throttle. He held back nothing, and was incredibly intense and moving. The voice responded more and more as he sang.

His ovation at the curtain calls was by far the biggest of the night for anybody. There were huge bouquets of flowers thrown onstage for him, and I felt wonderfully happy for him. It has been over 13 years since his last appearance at the Met, also in Carmen, with Baltsa and Ramey in 1987.

Pavarotti sang a rather stiff and unmusical 'Nessun Dorma' to open up the final act of Turandot, but when he got to the high B natural, God was with him. It was incredible. As good as ten or fifteen years ago, and he got a fine ovation.

He seemed very unsteady on his feet, however. For the first 20 minutes or so of the act, he didn't move 6 inches in one direction or another. Then when he had to move to Eaglen after the death of Liu, he tripped and fell on his face. I thought he might be hurt, but he slowly got up, and seemed all right.

His singing of the final duet however, was weak and tentative, and had many musical mistakes. It became increasingly difficult to hear him.

Still, it was thrilling to hear all three together on one stage in the same evening.

After the bows for Turandot, all three tenors, along with their colleagues of the evening, came out and bowed together. Pavarotti hugged Carreras, and their was great camaraderie to be seen.

I'm certainly glad I went. Gala evenings are fun. And usually very memorable and very expensive! Top ticket prices were $2500 per ticket!! I was all the way upstairs for only $100.