I am not an opera goer.

I do not go to the opera.

Not on purpose, not for any sort of like artistic stance.

It's just an art form that I experience maybe once a year.

And last year, I got taken to the opera

by one of our colleagues, Anthony Tomassini,

who does the opera criticism for the New York Times.

And there is a little bit of preamble,

you know, sit around and talk

and you sort of watch everybody in their gowns

and dresses come in and you look at people's

very expensive tuxedos and you're very aware

that you're about to have this rarefied experience.

Sounds luxurious.

And at some point, before the opera starts,

everybody gets up and the national anthem starts.

And then everybody starts singing the national anthem.

Oh, weird.

Now, to be fair, it's the beginning

of the New York Metropolitan Opera's season.

So we're seeing the first show

and the season kicks off apparently

...