I’m not a huge opera fan — my dad was but the appeal must skip a generation. I know less than a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of what Jay or Derb know about even obscure bits about opera. But, I believe I am the only person at NRO who can say that Pavarotti is a former colleague of mine. We were both in an at least one opera together at the Met in New York. He had a slightly more substantial role. I held a candle. Still he was a very nice guy as far as I could tell. I got his autograph. He messed up my hair.
Update: Dang, I can’t believe I didn’t think to write this. But several readers have pointed out that while almost no one could hold a candle to Pavarotti, I in fact did. Heh.