Opera in the Produce Aisle

Who says opera only belongs in a concert hall? Singers from the Washington National Opera Young Artists Program recently burst into song at a Whole Foods in Baltimore to promote the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Masquerading as Whole Foods employees, the singers blended seamlessly into the produce aisle. That is, until the familiar opening strains of Verdi’s “Libiamo ne’lieti calici” from La Traviata were pumped through the store’s PA system. Tenor Jesus Hernandez launched into the classic ode to decadence and love, pursuing soprano Jennifer Waters around the citrus.

In all fairness, the performance really should have taken place in the spirits aisle – the famous first lines translate to “Let’s drink, let’s drink from this happy chalice.” Maybe next time.