Meet Caroline Wai, the opera fan who won the COC’s Guess the Season Contest! She correctly guessed
Don Giovanni and
Fidelio would be part of our 2023/2024 season, earning her two entries into our draw for a pair of complimentary Grand Ring tickets.
She sat down for a Q&A with us after her win.
COC: What operas did you guess and why? Caroline: I did the contest with my partner for fun. We based our decisions off of previous years' offerings. I don't remember exactly but we would have picked one Verdi, one Puccini, one Mozart, one French, one German, and one modern.
COC: Tell us about your first opera experience.
Caroline: It was one of my first dates with my partner—
The Flying Dutchman at the old, then Hummingbird Centre.
COC: What made you want to come back to the opera house?
Caroline: I'm married to a classical music buff with kids who are burgeoning young musicians. We took them to
The Marriage of Figaro this year as our first opera outing as a family, post-COVID.
COC: What do you love about this art form?
Caroline: Beautiful music with beautiful costumes and sets.
COC: What would you tell people who don’t know if they’ll understand or like an opera?
Caroline: There are some operas—
La Bohème, for example—that are more accessible with a good story. If you are worried about the language, there are surtitles to help you follow along.
COC: What show are you going to use your prize tickets toward? Who are you going to bring? Caroline: A bit undecided between
Fidelio and
Don Giovanni. I'll be bringing my partner, of course, and maybe splurge and have the kids come along too.
Preview our exciting 2023-2024 season today! Subscriptions are now on sale.