Page 197 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Not nervous, but that shoulder massage sure feels good.” Rod leaned his head back to flex his neck as Wyl massaged. “You have such powerful hands.”
Wyl stopped the massage and wrapped his left arm around Rod’s shoulders, leaning in to kiss his ear. “Good luck tonight, doctor.”
“Gentlemen,” a voice came from the rear of the auditorium. A man approached, climbed the steps, and walked across the stage to where they stood. He offered his hand. “I’m Tadhg McCourt, President of the Arts League of Galway, sponsors of the symposium. You must be Dr. Bonner.” He faced Rod and offered his hand.
Rod grasped his hand and shook. “It’s a pleasure, Dr. McCourt.” He motioned to Wyl. “This is my husband, Wyl Sterling.”
Dr. McCourt smiled and offered Wyl his hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sterling. I’ve heard a lot about you two.”
“Oh?” Wyl raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize we had a reputation in Ireland to live up to.”
Tadhg shook his head and smiled. “Nothing like that. I know you two are here on your honeymoon. We’re quite lucky to have a college professor who is an opera expert give a talk at the symposium.”
“Are you expecting a large crowd?” Rod slid his hands into his pockets to keep from fidgeting.
“We have two opera performance centers in Ireland,” Tadhg said. “One in Cork and one in Wexford. Neither is near Galway, so we feel rather isolated. I expect we’ll have quite a few opera fans for tonight’s lecture.”
“Do you have a wireless mic so I can stroll the stage as I talk?” Rod asked.
“Yes,” Tadhg walked to the lectern. “I believe we have a cordless microphone ready for you.” He picked up a microphone, switched it on, and spoke briefly. His voice boomed over the auditorium sound system.
“That works.” Rod took the microphone.
“I have your bio in my pocket,” Tadhg said. “I’ll introduce you and bring you up on stage. You and Wyl can sit in the front row over to the right.” Tadhg motioned to the place they should sit. “Wyl, I’ll introduce Rod and introduce you as his husband. Is that okay?”
Wyl nodded. “Fine with me.”
“Good. You can stand up and wave to the crowd, so everyone sees you.”
“Then I guess we’re all set,” Rod said.
Rod and Wyl took their seats as people began filing in.
Within twenty minutes, the auditorium had filled. The din of chatting guests flooded the room. Wyl reached for Rod’s hand and squeezed it, showing support for his husband. Tadhg McCourt walked on stage and approached the lectern. The crowd quieted as he picked up the microphone.
“Good evening, and welcome to tonight’s lecture. The Arts League of Galway is pleased to offer an unusual treat. Dr. Rod Bonner is an expert on opera and is here tonight to share his thoughts on Mozart’sDon Giovanni. Dr. Bonner holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of North Texas. With him is his husband, Mr. Wyl Sterling. They own a large ranch in West Texas. Wyl, stand and wave to the audience.”
Wyl did, and a round of applause ensued.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please warmly welcome Dr. Rod Bonner.” Tadhg began applauding, and the audience joined him as Rod climbed the steps and walked to center stage. He shook Tadhg’s hand and accepted the microphone.”
“Thank you, Dr. McCourt, and thanks to the Arts League of Galway for having me here this evening,” Rod began.
He spoke about the production aspect of opera and how it took teamwork between the set crew, the chorus, and the soloists. He mentioned that some competitive sports coaches often used opera as an example of how collaboration works to craft a winning production.
He highlighted the various roles in opera and noted that the operatic soprano was typically a younger woman, while an older woman often played a mother or governess. An operatic tenor often played the leading male role, while a bass voice typically played the antagonist.
He briefly spoke about the three aspects of listening: musical, physical, and emotional, giving his audience a clue on how to enjoy music to the best.
The standing ovation showed the audience's overwhelming affection for his presentation.
“Wow, babe, that was fantastic.” Wyl gave his husband a quick hug after Rod left the stage. “I learned several things tonight that I didn’t know before.”
Tadhg McCourt approached, a big smile on his face. “You are a hit, Dr. Bonner. The audience is abuzz about the information you shared. I can tell we need to host a performance ofDon Giovannihere at the university soon. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go schmooze.” Tadhg shook hands with both Rod and Wyl before melting into the crowd.
Many well-wishers waited in line to shake hands with Rod and Wyl and chat about their opera experiences. The line thinned out, and at the end were Ailbe and Declan.
“Rod, I’m very impressed,” Ailbe offered his hand.
