Sometimes I’m just wrong and last night was one of those times. I thought I would “endure” the opera arias concert so Betsy could enjoy a night of music. I knew she would love it and I pretended to be excited about it, but secretly dreaded it. I was so mistaken. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever enjoyed music more, except maybe when I’ve heard Betsy sit at the piano and sing.
The Great Opera Arias concert was held at Palazzo Poli, which is next to the Trevi Fountain. It was presented by I Solisti dell’Opera Lirica di Roma and featured a string quartet that accompanied a soprano and a tenor, all of whom are graduates of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music in Rome. They sang masterpieces by legendary Italian composers including Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini. The performance also highlighted instrumental favorites like Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Mascagni’s intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana. They also played the William Tell Overture, which wasn’t listed on the program, but brought smiles to the audience.
I felt I was in a scene from Pretty Woman or Little Women, when Julia Robert’s and Winona Ryder attended the opera for the first time and both wept. I also understood how my brother felt when he listened to an aria sung by Pavarotti. Mike is a manly man, an athlete and such a strong guy, but I watched him cry as he listened to the famed tenor. At that time, I didn’t understand how the music moved him to tears. Last night, I understood. Tears streamed from my eyes as the soprano sang. It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand a single word from her or the tenor. Somehow, I still knew when they sang in Italian about joy, sadness, love, loss. It was incredible. Clearly, I am an Italian opera fan but didn’t know it until last night.
Yesterday was a relaxed day. I spent an hour at a laundromat. Three weeks traveling requires a laundry day. In our travels over the years, we’ve always managed to do some laundry no matter the country. It’s nice to have some fresh clothes even though we’re heading home Saturday.
Today, we’re going out for lunch, perhaps visit a church and then tonight we’ll make pasta at the apartment of a Michelin star chef.
Kim & Betsy 