I met a couple of interesting fellows from New York City on one of my many stays at Fisher’s Loft Inn last summer. We had a great conversation before supper but when they told me they worked as Opera Managers – I shared a Newfoundland opera story that I thought you might also enjoy; especially if you read Dad’s last story and appreciate a series of coincidences and happenstance on a truly grandiose scale.
A couple of years ago I was driving back from St. George’s, Newfoundland when I called my good friend Jonathon Paulse to let him know I was nearing the city of Corner Brook.
“Where are you exactly?” he asked excitedly.
“Uhhh, George’s Lake.” I stated
“Stop the truck and come up to Rob’s parents place – a boat is on the way.”, he shouted excitedly.
Sure enough, by the time I’d rounded the north east end of George’s Lake the boys were waiting at the wharf. Rob explained they were hosting a ‘stag party’ on the island and a fine crowd had come out to celebrate. Quite the tribute in fact, given the distance many of them had travelled to join him. I made quick rounds with those I knew and was kindly introduced to many new friends; one of whom was Peter Barrett, an opera singer from Corner Brook, Newfoundland who performs with the Canadian Opera House. We had a grand chat and I learned about his career, how he got started, the number of fellow Newfoundlanders that make up their troupe (30% of their performers are Newfoundlanders) and some of the performances he’d been involved with.
I stopped him there and begged his forgiveness with this apology and explanation.
“Peter I’ve got to tell you that I’ve only been to the opera once in my life and I might have saw ten seconds of the show. Now don’t get me wrong – the performance didn’t put me to sleep. Rather I was commuting from Toronto at the time and had just arrived home after a grueling month of travel presentations. As soon as I stepped through the door I found my wife waiting with opera tickets one of her clients had given her that day. I didn’t even have time to think and was only thankful that I was already dressed in a suit for I could tell she was excited about the performance. We enjoyed a beautiful walk to the theater but unfortunately the minute I found my seat I was overcome by the exhaustion and fell sound asleep – waking only briefly near the end of the performance when I squinted towards a stage covered in naked women. My head drooped sidelong towards my wife of whom I asked, “Honey, are those naked breasts I’m looking at?” She responded affirmatively and I slumped back asleep slurring, “I know you’re not going to have some story to tell tomorrow.”
Peter looked at me smiling.
“That was ‘Oedipus’”
“Yes, that’s the name of the opera. I remember it now. How’d you know that”
“I know”, he said, “because I was one of the performers in that show!”
Eh boy – Not exactly what you’d call a Greek drama but it certainly offers a keen reminder to the importance of an individual’s role in the course of our own destiny. Be spontaneous, stop everything, meet people, pay attention, make friends.
