Opera Trip 

Opera Trip
Ashley Barbuto and Susana Zavala

Oct. 31 2025

On October 17th, students from the high school chorus and Italian III class set out for an exciting trip to New York City. They were able to to visit the Metropolitan Opera House, where they experienced one of the most loved and frequently performed productions in opera history — La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini. 

The performance is divided into 4 acts, portraying the tragic love story of a couple whose relationship is disrupted by illness and poverty. Their love and life are turned upside down, evoking emotions in many individuals in the audience, including our teachers, Mrs.Younker and Mrs. Arata. Mrs Younker and Mrs. Arata have been organizing the opera trip for 3 years now, and they had a wonderful time. 

Mrs Younker, the chorus teacher, stated that it's a wonderful experience for the students because she sees the opera as very educational.  It provides an opportunity for students to see a collaboration between culture and music. Her favorite part was seeing all the kids put on their best clothes and being excited to go to the city. Mrs. Arata, the Italian teacher, also considered the trip a great success, noting the positive feedback she received from students. She hopes the experience helped them appreciate Italian culture from a new perspective. She explained that opera is much more popular in Italy than in the United States, so this trip offered students a unique glimpse into Italian culture. Her favorite moments included watching the second act, observing the conductor interact with the orchestra pit, and sitting in the orchestra seats. With 61 students attending this year, Mrs. Arata hopes to organize the trip again next year. Students saw and learned about the struggles of bohemian life, a life away from society's conventional norms and expectations, in 1830s Paris. This story exemplified many important themes, such as love, friendship, poverty, and loss; It showed an emotional glimpse into the highs and lows of young artists back in the day.

For many students, this trip was truly a unique opportunity to experience the magnificence of a live opera in one of the most iconic opera houses in the world. Beyond just watching a show, this opera was a chance for students to be able to connect learning music and languages with real-world cultural experiences.