Off Broadway with Craig Convessor

Opera Blues

By CRAIG CONVESSOR

mcp blogger

The day that Pavarotti died is when I learned who Pavarotti was. I’m not a big opera fan, so it makes sense I wouldn’t follow individual careers. The only thing that I knew for sure was that he was big, in reputation and stature. So, as I listened to National Public Radio for the next two days, I found myself a little more educated as to who this star was. I was quite impressed.

I decided that I would have a little fun with the folks from my adopted town of Scottville. Armed with two full days of information, I was sure that I could be impressive on the subject.

I saw my opportunity when one of the insurance salesmen in the neighborhood came walking by my shop. “Hey,” I yelled out casually, “did you hear about Pavarotti?” “Yeah, how about that!? He was, what, about 72? Did you see him that time on the Johnny Carson show? He really was an opera singer of the people.” And then he walked away, not noticing the blank look on my face. This was going to be harder than I thought.

But, my spirit is indomitable when I’m out to catch someone off guard. The next day, the perfect opportunity walked right into my shop. He wanted to see if I had any returnables laying around so he could buy himself a quart. I said, “Too bad about Pavarotti, eh?” Without missing a beat, he said, “Yeah, that was a real loss to the world of opera. You know, if you put Pavarotti and Caruso side by side, singing Ave Maria, you’d be hard-pressed to say which one was better.” And then he walked out, not even bothering with the empties.

I know there’s an obvious lesson here for me. Maybe I shouldn’t take things for granted is one. Maybe also, I should engage the people around me more about subjects I know nothing about – I might learn something. But, of course, the biggest lesson is one I already knew: I’m not good at fishing and I don’t think I’ll even bother with a license again this year.

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