The Opera

     I went to the opera Sunday.

     My wife's boss's wife invited us to go with them.

     There was no football on TV. The Mavericks weren't playing.

     Sure. Why not?

     I had been to the opera in 1969. That time we saw "Carmen." I don't remember much about it, except I was glad when it was over. I think it was about a bullfight.

     I remember writing some opera jokes, but not many. Operas just aren't funny.

     We parked and walked a quarter mile in the rain to the Dallas Music Hall. I told my wife we could keep each other awake.

      But this time the opera was different.

      It had sub-titles.

     You cannot imagine what a difference sub-titles make. Even though everybody was singing in Italian (I think), I actually understood what was happening.

    "Madame Butterfly" was wonderful, a gripping poignant story. My wife liked the singers, and they were good I suppose, but I really got into the story.

    When 4,000 people stop coughing and sit in deathly silence while a teenage mother, her toddler, and her housekeeper sit and watch for a deadbeat father to return.. and watch... and watch, you sense something powerful is happening.

    When a young mother named Butterfly is so broken hearted she can no longer bear light or springtime, and you feel moisture trickling down your cheek, and you know the roof's probably not leaking, you begin to think, "Wow, this is really good."

    And when the audience stands and applauds the cast, and applauds ... and applauds, and applauds and boos the deadbeat dad, you know you've been entertained.

    When even a clod like me can enjoy an opera, it must be something special. Well worth walking in the rain to see.

    Yet it took me decades to learn that.

     How long have operas had sub-titles?

     What else have I been missing?

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