I saw my first opera when I was about 12 year old. I can't quite remember what it was. I think it was supposed to be "The Marriage of Figaro", but for some reason it ended up being something different. It didn't matter much to me, however. There were no surtitles, and I was quickly bored to my skull.

As a result opera quickly became synonym of big men and big ladies singing incomprehensible lyrics with very wobbly voices.

Then, in my early thirties, I started taking voice lessons. After a couple of years of on and off studies I decided to become more serious about it, and with the help of a wonderful teacher happily dived into the wonders of the human voice.

Time passed and I decided I was ready to go and try to see an opera. I booked a ticket to see "Aida", produced by the Canadian Opera Company. Feeling quite inadequate as an opera-goer, I downloaded an "Opera explained: Aida" CD, and went on to get a bit more educated about the story, th emusic the composer, and the characters. I didn't really became an expert overnight, but I felt ready enough to face the curtain without feeling I was out of place.

The big day came, and I sat in my comfortable seat, on the side and fairly close to the stage. Many people were scrutinizing their program in a very expert-looking fashion, and so I hurried to do the same, in case it was a required thing to do. Thankfully the light went quickly off, the overture got played, and shortly after the singer playing Aida sang her first aria.

Goosebumps ran all over my body, and well, I was sold. It didn't matter anymore that I did not know much about opera, that I had no idea who the performers were, or that I didn't wear a jacket as fancy as the old gentleman seating in front of me. I spent the dreaded three hours riveted to the stage and drinking anything the singers would (very beautifully) declame. What a wonderful experience!

Now, I confess I don't know if I had been as interested if I had not myself started to study classical singing. Many people are big opera fans without being singers themselves, but for me I needed that extra understanding of what was going on to really open to the experience. I was all worth it, mind you. Few things transported me as did the singers that evening.