A THOUSAND conquests??

A thousand and three, actually.

When I was in college my sweetheart bought two tickets to the Seattle Opera as a gift. As a typical college grunt, I thought it was a stupid idea, and I made my opinion known to the proprieter of the cleaners across the street from campus. He threw a fit, then threw my shirts and pants back at me, calling me a blockhead and informing me how much work it takes to mount an opera performance.

I was shamed into attending my first opera. I loved it. I owe both my sweetheart and my irate cleaner a debt. I've been a fan ever since, for years spending nearly every Saturday afternoon listening to broadcasts from the Met with my wife and another couple.

Another great reason to live so close to Seattle: a quick cab ride from the ferry to McCaw Hall gets you to first-rate performances by the internationally-acclaimed Seattle Opera. Click More for a sample from last year's production of Don Giovanni. Coming up in 2009: The Ring Cycle, attended by Wagnerphiles from all over the world.