Start with the Teatro Nuovo, opened in 1864, & surely renovated at some point. Truly a grand old building, however much right-sized for this small Italian town.

Then there was the crowd.  All ages.  All fashions.  All so glad to be there.

Finally, two short comic operas.  Each wittily directed and acted by Paolo Rossi.

The shorter, an experimental piece about hospitals by Franco Donatoni, left us with about as much universal slapstick as it did allusive puzzlement.

Puccini’s Girogio Schicchi offered some of the same challenges.   But being more traditional, it had all the fine music, the singing, and the (updated) pageantry to carry us along.  Quite enjoyable!  Maybe we’ve yet to arrive as true opera buffs, Rodger, but tonight–a special night, all around–was a start.  A wonderful start.