The Many Faces of Opera

Overheard at a recent performance (somewhere, sometime, I’m sure):

• Music lover: “I loved the overture and the arias”
• Opera buff: “I loved this production”
• Opera poseur: “I loved the recitative – I can’t stand people who only listen to arias”
• Opera wannabe poseur: “I love how Puccini sits in the Baroque mainstream”
• Opera self-deluder: “The acting was superb”
• Opera bunny: “What’s Placido’s room number?”
• Opera critic: “Where’s the bar?”