My Favorite Topic and possibly the reason why opera is so powerful: it has the ability to vulnerably portray the whole spectrum of the human experience with a combination of instrument and voice. Attending an opera is like seeing a Psychologist, but much cheaper. Operas portray the effects of depression, home sickness, schizophrenia, love, long-distance relationships, infidelity, jealousy, rage, revenge, etc. and confront issues such as sexism (Ex: Marnie), and racism (Sanctuary Road). They span time from 1597 to present and are set in an uncountable number of times and places (Exs: 1800s Italy/France 1960s England 1000 Scotland, Slave South US and many more).
Congrats on a successful WEP, Ariana! I know you did a lot of non-musical tasks, but I hope you gained an even better understanding of the behind-the-scenes work at the Opera and also made some connections you can rely on in the future. Best, Dr. Mc