<p>I"ve never been a huge fan of opera. Specifically, I'm not a fan of the singing style.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Or it may be rebellion that traces back to college. My classically trained voice coaches refused to work with me on musical theatre pieces. (And I was a theatre major.)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Their reasoning was something to the effect of, "Oh, noooooo...Musical theatre is base! Opera is grand! If you want to study with me, you will sing arias!"</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Granted, there are worse fates in life than being forced to sing Puccini arias.  In fact, listening to Puccini makes me feel weak in the knees.  Puccini oozes Romance.  It's Puccini you hear in the scene from <em>Room with a View</em> where George Emerson marches across the field and lays one on Lucy Honeychurch.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>In a lifetime not too long ago, I used to offer a summer program where children ages 1st -4th grades would meet every afternoon for three weeks.  Culminating activity?  Child-sized version of Mozart's <em>The Magic Flute</em>.  Oh, yes, it was adorable.  And I successfully brainwashed many a child into a Mozart obsession.  :-)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>