As I entered Covent Garden, as usual, I handed my open bag to the young woman who searches handbags. Or the 'Bag Lady' as I have been known to refer to her and her colleagues.
"Is that a camera?" she asked.
I did my butter-wouldn't-melt/sheepish look, ans she said "Absolutely no photos until the curtain call. Then it's alright." Which I knew anyway, but it's nice to get 'official' confirmation.
Come the curtain call, I had my camera all set up. I swear I changed the ISO setting to what I normally set it to but the photos came out very dark and when I next checked the camera, the ISO was on the 'auto' setting. So, I got really bad curtain call photos. and now, I can't for the life of me remember what I normally do for curtain call photos...do I normally set it to ISO 400, the highest on my camera? Someone help me out desperately - I've forgotten what has become habitual.
I did however manage to get some pictures at the Stage Door:
Tosca- Micaela Carosi 
Scarpia - Lucio GalloAnd now, I have to issue a Hunkentenor Alert:
Finally, I feel I have to issue an official statement of clarification
Last night two people mentioned to me: "I expect you're here for Jonas Kaufmann" and today a third person emailed me with "Enjoy seeing your other favourite tenor in Barcelona"
Of course I like Jonas. I am still kicking myself for missing Marcelo Alvarez in Bizet's Don José. I am full of excitement at the prospect of two performances of Don Carlos with Rolando Villazón. Not to mention Juan Diego Florez in concert. I also am partial to several baritones "even though they're not tenors". And I don't ever want to give the impression I don't enjoy female voices.
It's great to have so many really excellent singers appearing in so many different operas, and my appreciation of them is total and sincere. All that having been said, however much I may thrill at Jonas and Marcelo and Rolando and Juan Diego, and even baritones, my first and true opera love was, is and always be Plácido, and to coin a phrase, to him I am faithful in my heart.
