My First Opera

Last night I watched the opening night at the Met -- the 25th at Lincoln Center, and it brought back memories of my first opera.

My best friend, Dolores, -- she who later married the Ambassador -- had to go to the opera for one of her courses and talked me into tagging along. The "old" Met -- we're talking about the 1940's here -- was in the ornate European style and just gorgeous. We ended up in heaven somewhere -- but if the acoustics are good, I still say Second Balcony are the best seats in the house. The opera was "La Giaconda", and the evening was made especially memorable by the debut of a young tenor named Richard Tucker. And from the bravos and standing ovation, there was no question but that a star was born that night!

(Richard Tucker's debut was January 25th 1945)

Helen Matcovich, 1990's