A Night at the Opera

When the topic of the opera came up today, my immediate reaction was: I don't think I have the proper attire for the opera. Because I was thinking of this opera house, the fabulous Opera Garnier.



as opposed to this opera house, Opera de Bastille, the people's opera house.



Fortunately, I did have something to wear to this opera house.


Guiseppe Verdi was born in 1813 in the province of Parma and composed 30 operas before his death in 1901.

Composed in 1859, A Masked Ball is an intense melodrama in three acts. We had the privilege - thanks to Kim and Adele - to attend this performance tonight at Opera de Bastille.

The opera is based on a true story - the assassination in 1791 of Swedish King Gustave III during a masked ball. However, Verdi changed the characters where Gustave became Riccardo, the Earl of Warwick, who was in love with his friend Renato's wife, Amelia.

Needless to say, it was a night to remember...