The Verdi duets are his crowning achievement musically, as far as I'm concerned.  Let's discover why, and get a better understanding of what makes them work so well.

Are you dreading it?  Are you looking forward to it?  You're just putting up with it because your wife wants to go?  Which opera is good to bring the kids to?  Give me 15 minutes, I'll show you how to have a good time at the opera, from dinner before to drinks after!