Ending the evening at Great American Ball Park

Carmella Jones, who is singing Ulrica in "A Masked Ball" was gearing up at Home Plate to sing the National Anthem. Did you know that by day she's a trauma nurse?? Talk about an operatic career....

She was sharing the stadium with (beside the Reds) a group of brave men from Wright Patterson Air Force Base (and their kids). With Carmella, it's hugs all 'round.

Then, in our seats (sort of near third base), Evans and moi watch the Reds lose (actually, they were winning at that point).

Evans is swapping baseball stories with members of the casts of Tales of Hoffmann and A Masked Ball. That's Sarah Coburn on the right. Wait 'til you hear her sing Olympia! In the middle is Kim Josephson, singing Anckarstrom (A Masked Ball) and his son. And on the far left, Richard Margison, who sings King Gustavo III in Masked Ball.

And look who we ran into! Robin Gehl, program director for WGUC and avid baseball fan, doing her weekly (or maybe, daily) volunteer stint for the Reds. Who knew?

Thanks to the opera's Jennifer Bellin for providing some of these photos.