Citibank Loves The Chief

Citibank loves the Chief. Must be the spending power. Just not too long back the Chief got an offer from them to get tickets for MPO's Symphonic Oscars, buy one get one free. Not only were we interested, but it would be good to experience the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra from the audience perspective instead of the performer's perspective.

So there we are, all dressed up for the threes (not the nines because it being a Sunday, it was a matinee performance) and at KLCC. As usual we parked somewhere across the road where the rates are cheaper (trust us, when you had to go to KLCC for rehearsals that may take the entire day, you learn to find cheap parking...but then again the Chief always knows where to get cheap parking in the first place), walked over to KLCC, headed to the ticketing counter to collect the tickets, and received not only our tickets but a complimentary parking coupon as well. Allows for cheaper parking for some maybe 4 hours or so but well, now we know.

So what Citibank offers doesn't just stop at a B1F1 (buy-one-free-one) and a parking coupon, but they've also thrown in the free use of KLCC's Gendang Suite for while waiting for the performance to begin and during intermission, as the tickets were for Box Seats. On our way up, we'd help a couple take photos by the poster, nicely catching the entire poster and the couple, but in return the fler took a photo of us and the Chief with the background showing the poster that we're attending the 'YMPHONIC OSCARS'. Sakai.

Well at least all other shots were taken properly.

The Gendang Suite is comfy, and upon entry there was a little tray set out with cups and teabags. Innocent us thought that they were complimentary, but thankfully we haven't helped ourself as we soon found out that we had to pay for them. It would definitely sting to pay for overpriced Lipton when we're not expecting it.

Otherwise, the suite was very comfy for the two of us (seems like Citibank no loves anyone else, not even us) with the exception of a staff to wait on us, even when it was made very clear that we were not going to order and refreshments, thank you, no, there isn't anything we would need at this time, it's ok, we're fine...After a while, she left us alone and we'd shut the door to further indicate privacy wanted. Click.

Privacy to take photos to our heart's delight. But of course, ahem, no photography is allowed in Dewan Filharmonik Petronas during a performance.

During the intermission, however, the door was back open and the staff was waiting by the door again. We gave in and ordered some desserts to while the time away.

The music was good, even though we only knew probably half the selection of songs. Because of our Lord Of The Rings Symphony stint, we paid a bit of attention to the conductor and found him to be a much more livelier fellow who almost jumps about as he conducts. The Chief notes that the soloist couldn't be heard clearly tho', and we concur - when she sings the same notes and the orchestra, we couldn't hear what word it was.

Otherwise we were very much entertained by it all, altho' sitting in the box seat means dragging our chair a bit closer to the balcony and angling it such a way that we didn't have to stretch our necks much to see the entire orchestra.

Next up is checking out when the Lord Of The Rings Symphony will be showing nearby Bolehland so that we can appreciate it (while singing along under our breath) from the audience's perspective! And in good seats (limited by what the poor can afford)! We still cannot believe that they were in Sporeland just middle last year and we didn't catch it!