The other week, I wrote about going to the Santa Fe Opera鈥檚 鈥淟a Boh猫me鈥 on a first date. The Journal received so much positive feedback about that piece that they decided to send me back for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart鈥檚 鈥淭he Marriage of Figaro.鈥 But 鈥渕arriage鈥 is a pretty scary word to throw around on a second date, and Danielle 鈥 my date from last time 鈥 said she鈥檇 rather our next meet-up be something a bit more casual. So, for 鈥淔igaro,鈥 I went with friends.
More accurately, I knew my friends Amy and Valery were planning to attend together, and Amy put me in touch with a documentary filmmaker named Stephanie to be my plus-one. The four of us planned to meet for the pre-opera tailgate.
kAm$E6A92?:6 2?5 x 2CC:G65 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ ;FDE 2D p>J H2D E6IE:?8[ 鈥(6 92G6 2 42C C6A2:C :DDF6 2?5 925 E@ AF== :?E@ 2 82D DE2E:@?]鈥漦^Am
kAm'2=6CJ鈥橠 6?8:?6 925 @G6C962E65[ 2?5 E96J H@F=5 92G6 E@ H2:E 7@C :E E@ 4@@= 5@H? 367@C6 255:?8 4@@=2?E] %96J H@F=5 >:DD E96 E2:=82E6]k^Am
kAm$E6A92?:6 2?5 x 7@F?5 2 A:4?:4 E23=6] pD H6 F?A24<65 @FC 4966D6 5:A 2?5 492C4FE6C:6[ D96 E@=5 >6 23@FE 2 C646?E AC@;64E H96C6 D96 925 EC2G6=65 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[ :?E6CG:6H:?8 7:=>>2<6CD :? 5:776C6?E 4@F?EC:6D] $96 DA@<6 @7 E96 3C2G6CJ @7 E9@D6 :? A=246D =:<6 pK6C32:;2? 2?5 &82?52[ H96C6 2CE:DE:4 6IAC6DD:@? 42? 92G6 5625=J 4@?D6BF6?46D]k^Am
kAm鈥渪E鈥橠 DE2CE:?8 E@ 86E E92E H2J 96C6[鈥 x BF:AA65]k^Am
kAm%96 5:C64E@C 2?5 4@DEF>6 56D:8?6C 7@C 鈥渦:82C@[鈥 {2FC6?E !6==J[ 92D D6E |@K2CE鈥橠 @A6C2 :? $A2:? :? E96 `hb_D 5FC:?8 E96 5:4E2E@CD9:A @7 uC2?4:D4@ uC2?4@] }@E E96 >@DE @3G:@FD 324<5C@A 7@C 2 =:89E962CE65 @A6C2 3F772[ 3FE 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 @?6 7@C H92E >2?J D66 2D @FC @H? :?4C62D:?8=J 2FE9@C:E2C:2? H@C=5]k^Am
kAmr92?E2= %9@>2D 56D:8?65 E96 D6E] $96 2?5 !6==J 2C6 8C62E 4@==23@C2E@CD[ 92G:?8 H@C<65 E@86E96C @? @G6C e_ A2DE AC@5F4E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 >2?J @A6C2D] u@C 鈥渦:82C@[鈥 D96 92D 56D:8?65 2 <:?6E:4 D6E 4@?D:DE:?8 @7 2 46?EC2= 4:C4F=2C A=2E7@C> EFC?65 3J 2 D6C:6D @7 862CD @? 6:E96C D:56 @7 E96 DE286] x? E96 46?E6C @7 E96 A=2E7@C> :D 2 EH@\DE@CJ 2DD6>3=286 @7 5@@CD[ H:?5@HD 2?5 DE2:CD 鈥 2== @FE=:?65 :? 3=24< 2?5 H9:E6[ 2D :? 2C49:E64EFC2= 6=6G2E:@? 5C2H:?8D] %9:D 2C49:E64EFC2= D6E A:646 :D 9:?865[ @A6?:?8 :?E@ >2?J 4@?7:8FC2E:@?D E9C@F89@FE E96 @A6C2[ =:<6 2 3:8 AFKK=6 3@I]k^Am
kAmpD 鈥渦:82C@鈥 368:?D[ E96 492C24E6CD E2<6 E96:C A=246D @? E96 A6C:>6E6C @7 E96 C6G@=G:?8 A=2E7@C>] %96:C A6C:@5 4@DEF>6D 2?5 DE2E:4 2CC2?86>6?E 3C:?8 E@ >:?5 s:D?6J (@C=5鈥橠 r2C@FD6= @7 !C@8C6DD H:E9 :ED 4C66AJ 2FE@>2E@?D] %96:C DEJ=:K65 3=@4<:?8[ 2?5 E96 724E E92E E96J鈥機6 5H2C765 3J 2 >2DD:G6 4=@4<H@C< >249:?6CJ[ DJ>3@=:K6D E96:C C6=2E:G6 A@H6C=6DD?6DD 鈥 4@8D :? 2 H966=[ 2D :E H6C6] p=E9@F89 E96 492C24E6CD :? 鈥渦:82C@鈥 2EE6>AE E@ 6I6C4:D6 7C66 H:== 3J >62?D @7 @7E6? 92C63C2:?65 D496>6D 2?5 DEC2E286>D[ E96:C A=2?D 324<7:C6[ 2?5 E96J 2== DF776C E96 :?6I@C23=6 4@?D6BF6?46D]k^Am
kAm%96 D<J 369:?5 E96 DE286 :D J6==@H 2?5 A2=6 2>6E9JDE] ~?6 @7 E96 8C62E ;@JD @7 E96 @A6?\2:C $2?E2 u6 @A6C2 9@FD6 :D 766=:?8 E96 3C66K6 2?5 D66:?8 E96 DF?D6E 2?5 92G:?8 E96 7:4E:G6 H@C=5 @7 E96 DE286 >6=5 :?E@ @FC @H? 6?492?E65 =2?5D42A6]k^Am
kAm#:442C5@ u2DD: 2D u:82C@ D:?8D 2 5F6E H:E9 9:D 3C:56\E@\36[ $FD2??2[ A@CEC2J65 3J {:G #65A2E9] p=E9@F89 E96:C 5F6E 368:?D 7=:CE2E:@FD=J[ u:82C@ D@@? 364@>6D 4@?DF>65 H:E9 DFDA:4:@?]k^Am
kAm鈥$FDA:4:@? >2<6D >J 3=@@5 CF? 4@=5[鈥 96 D:?8D] xE鈥橠 2 CF??:?8 E96>6]k^Am
kAmu2DD:鈥橠 u:82C@ :D :?H2C5\7@4FD65] w6 D:?8D H:E9 2 E:89E?6DD E92E DA62<D E@ E96 492C24E6C鈥橠 C6AC6DD65 2?86C 2?5 A2C2?@:2 鈥 2D @AA@D65 E@ u=@C:2? $6>A6J鈥橠 r@F?E p=>2G:G2[ H9@D6 2?86C 2?5 A2C2?@:2 :D A@H6C7F==J[ 7C:89E6?:?8=J[ 4@>>2?5:?8=J =@F5]k^Am
kAm$FD2??2 :D E@@ D>2CE 2?5 C6D@FC467F= E@ 36 2? :?86?F6[ 3FE D96 DE:== 92D 2 AFC:EJ 2?5 DH66E?6DD E@ 96C[ H9:49 #65A2E9鈥橠 D@7E[ 46=6DE:2= G@:46 42AEFC6D H6==]k^Am
kAm%96 32C6=J 25@=6D46?E r96CF3:?@ :D 2 4=2DD:4 EC@FD6C C@=6[ 2?5 E96 8:7E65 >6KK@\D@AC2?@ w@?8?: (F A=2JD 9:> H:E9 2== E96 9JA6C24E:G6 ?6C5:?6DD @7 |2CE:? $9@CE鈥橠 @=5 $2EFC52J }:89E {:G6 492C24E6C[ t5 vC:>=6J[ 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 9:89\H2:DE65 3C66496D 2?5 D=:4<65 5@H? 92:C]k^Am
kAm(6 :? E96 2F5:6?46 <?@H E92E (F :D 2 H@>2?[ @7 4@FCD6[ 2?5 :E鈥橠 A@DD:3=6 E@ C625 2 BF66C DF3E6IE :?E@ E96 @A6C2[ A2CE:4F=2C=J D:?46 2 >2;@C A=@E A@:?E :?G@=G6D r96CF3:?@ 5C6DD:?8 FA 2D 2 H@>2? 鈥 2 D@CE @7 5@F3=6\=2J6C65 5C28]k^Am
kAm鈥渢G6CJ H@>2? >2<6D >6 3=FD9[ 6G6CJ H@>2? >2<6D >6 EC6>3=6[鈥 (F鈥橠 r96CF3:?@ D:?8D] xE鈥橠 46CE2:?=J >@C6 A2=2E23=6 7@C 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 62CD E@ :>28:?6 E9@D6 H@C5D 4@>:?8 7C@> 2 J@F?8 H@>2? E92? 2 9@C?J :?46=] t:E96C H2J[ (F 3C:?8D EC6>6?5@FD 962CE E@ E96 C@=6]k^Am
kAm%@H2C5 E96 6?5 @7 p4E x[ u:82C@ 2?5 r96CF3:?@ 492D6 6249 @E96C :? 2?5 @FE @7 5@@CD @? E96 C6G@=G:?8 DE286] 鈥渦:82C@鈥 :D @7E6? 56D4C:365 2D 2 5@@C 72C46[ H:E9 2 =@E @7 9:5:?8[ D66<:?8 2?5 >@>6?ED @7 >:DE2<6? :56?E:EJ A=2J:?8 @FE @? 6:E96C D:56 @7 =@4<65 2?5 F?=@4<65 5@@CD] !6==J 2?5 %9@>2D 3C:?8 E96D6 5@@C 72C46 6=6>6?ED E@ E96 7@C6 3J 92G:?8 E96 492C24E6CD :?E6C24E H:E9 2? |]r] tD496C\=:<6 D6E[ H9@D6 6I24E 4@?7:8FC2E:@? :D 4@?DE2?E=J 492?8:?8]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 :?E6C>:DD:@?[ p>J 2?5 '2=6CJ E@=5 >6 E96 42C 4@F=5?鈥橢 >2<6 :E 324< E@ p=3FBF6CBF6[ D@ x D2:5 x鈥5 8:G6 E96> 2 =:7E] $E6A92?:6[ >62?H9:=6[ 925?鈥橢 C62=:K65 9@H =@?8 E96 @A6C2 H2D[ D@ D96 3:5 FD 25:6F 2?5 9:E E96 C@25 7@C 96C EH@\9@FC 5C:G6 9@>6]k^Am
kAmx 4@F=5?鈥橢 96=A 3FE 4@??64E @FC @H? 4@>:4 >:D25G6?EFC6D E@ E9@D6 @7 E96 492C24E6CD :? 鈥渦:82C@]鈥 {:<6 E96>[ H6 D66>65 >6C6 4@8D :? 2 >249:?6CJ @7 4:C4F>DE2?46D 36J@?5 @FC 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm鈥渪E鈥橠 H6:C5 E@ 36 2EE6?5:?8 2 4@>:4 @A6C2 H9:=6 @FC 56>@4C24J :D 4@==2AD:?8[鈥 p>J D2:5]k^Am
kAmx 8F6DD E92E鈥橠 H9J !6==J D6E 鈥渦:82C@鈥 :? uC2?4@鈥橠 $A2:?[ 2 C676C6?46 E@ 9:D A6C46AE:@? @7 E96 32?2=:EJ @7 6G:= :? @FC @H? 86@A@=:E:42= F?:G6CD6] %96D6 @G6CE@?6D[ 4@>3:?65 H:E9 E96 6G6C\AC6D6?E :>286 @7 8C:?5:?8 862CD[ >2<6 E96 $2?E2 u6 ~A6C2鈥橠 鈥渦:82C@鈥 52C<6C E92? @E96C G6CD:@?D] (2E49:?8 E96 492C24E6CD鈥 4@>65:4 D96?2?:82?D A=2J @FE 282:?DE 2? @77D4C66? F?:G6CD6 @7 H2CD 2?5 :?4C62D:?8 :?DE23:=:EJ AC@5F465 2? F?D6EE=:?8 766=:?8[ ?@E F?=:<6 y@?2E92? v=2K6C鈥橠 a_ab 7:=>[ 鈥+@?6 @7 x?E6C6DE]鈥漦^Am
kAmx? p4E xxx[ |2C:?2 |@?K贸鈥橠 r@F?E6DD p=>2G:G2 DEF?D :? 2 7F49D:2 8@H? H:E9 A@:?E65 D9@F=56CD 2?5 DA2C<=:?8 CF3J 62CC:?8D] x? 2 AC@5F4E:@? H:E9 2 >@DE=J 3=24<\2?5\H9:E6 A2=6EE6[ E96 r@F?E6DD AC@G:56D 2 >F49\?66565 A@A @7 4@=@C[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 r@F?E鈥橠 8@=5 32E9C@36 2?5 2 3C:67 7=FCCJ @7 @C2?86 7=@H6CD :? @?6 D46?6[ H9:49 C62AA62C =2E6C] |@?K贸 :D @?6 @7 E96 >@C6 A@H6C7F= D:?86CD :? 鈥渦:82C@[鈥 E@@[ 2=@?8 H:E9 $6>A6J[ H9@ A=2JD 96C 9FD32?5[ E96 r@F?E]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89@FE E96 @A6C2[ E96 D:?86CD 92C>@?:K65 362FE:7F==J :? 2== @7 E96 D=@H6C 5F6ED] $@>6 @7 E96> DECF88=65 :? E96 72DE\A2465 A2CED[ 3FE |@K2CE鈥橠 C9JE9>D 2C6 ?@E@C:@FD=J 5:77:4F=E]k^Am
kAmpE E96 6?5 @7 p4E xxx[ 5FC:?8 u:82C@鈥橠 >2CC:286 46C6>@?J[ E96 r@F?E 2??@F?46D 7:C6H@C<D] (6 5@?鈥橢 86E E96>[ D25=J[ 2A2CE 7C@> 2 A:77=:?8 AF77 @7 AJC@E649?:4D :? E96 862CD 367@C6 E96 DE286 3C62<D @A6?] }@E H:E9 2 32?8 3FE 2 H9:>A6C]k^Am
kAmp4E x'[ E2<6D A=246 @? 2 72C >@C6 >:?:>2= DE286 鈥 2=>@DE 2 #@36CE (:=D@? 766= 鈥 H:E9 E96 492C24E6CD鈥 4=@4<H@C< F?:G6CD6 :? D92>3=6D] %96J H2?56C 2C@F?5 H:E9 7=2D9=:89ED[ =@DE 2?5 25C:7E 2>@?8 3C@<6? 862CD] u@C 2? @A6C2 :? H9:49 E96 492C24E6CD DA6?5 >@DE @7 E96:C E:>6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4@?7FD6[ >2?:AF=2E6 2?5 4@?EC@= @?6 2?@E96C[ :E鈥橠 @?=J H96? E96J =62C? E@ =6E 8@ @7 4@?EC@= E92E E96J 364@>6 36EE6C A6@A=6] p82:?[ E96 4@>:4 24E:@? :D C6?56C65 EC28:4@>:4 3J E96 D6E 2?5 E96 DE28:?8] qFE E92E鈥橠 2 8@@5 E9:?8[ x E9:?<] %9@>2D鈥 2?5 !6==J鈥橠 AC@5F4E:@? AF==D E96 566A6C[ 52C<6C 5:>6?D:@?D @FE @7 E96 @A6C2 2D 2 4@F?E6CH6:89E E@ E96 D:==:?6DD]k^Am
kAmxE H2D ?62C=J ` 2]>] 3J E96 E:>6 H6 5C@AA65 @77 '2=6CJ鈥橠 42C 2E E96 4@==:D:@? 46?E6C] ~? E96 =@?8 5C:G6 324< E@ p=3FBF6CBF6 H:E9 96C 2?5 p>J[ H6 925 2 DA:C:E65 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE @FC =:G6D :? }6H |6I:4@ 2?5 E96 F?6IA64E65 ;@FC?6JD E92E =65 FD E@ H96C6 H6 2C6] %96 862CD @7 @FC =:G6D 鈥 @C @FC 42CD 鈥 >2J 4@>6 2A2CE 7C@> E:>6 E@ E:>6[ 2?5 H6 >2J 766= =@DE 2?5 25C:7E :? 2 E6CC:7J:?8 H@C=5] qFE 2D =@?8 2D H6 9@=5 @?E@ @FC 9F>2?:EJ 鈥 2?5 6249 @E96C 鈥 H6 42? >2:?E2:? ;@J 2?5 AFCA@D6 :? @FC =:G6D] x 8F6DD E92E鈥橠 E96 >@C2= @7 @FC 6G6?:?8鈥橠 DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm%92E[ 2?5 x ?665 36EE6C 4=@E96D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ p>J]k^Am
kAm{@82? #@J46 q6:E>6? :D 2? 2CED HC:E6C 7@C E96 p=3FBF6CBF6 y@FC?2=] w6 4@G6CD >FD:4[ G:DF2= 2CED[ 3@@<D 2?5 >@C6] *@F 42? C6249 9:> 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i=36:E>6?o23B;@FC?2=]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=36:E>6?o23B;@FC?2=]4@>k^2m]k^Am