As a proud Opera Populist, Opera Chic has a soft spot for Verdi's trilogia popolare (but to impress Milan snobs she rattles off a small lecture, memorized over the years, about Verdi's obscure masterpiece, Jerusalem, that she actually, really likes a LOT). She nevertheless has a soft spot for Verdi's forays into Grand Opera: and she wishes she could fly to Barcelona because on Saturday, exactly 106 years after Maestro Verdi's death (at the Grand Hotel Et De Milan), the 1867 French language version of Don Carlos will be staged at the Liceu de Barcelona (Farina/Alvarez/Benini). And, as you see in the photos, it's a Don Carlos with ninjas.
Opera Chic is also the proud owner of the Alagna/Hampson/Pappano version (nobody booed then). But don't tell anyone.