Carmen. I always feel the “relationship gone wrong, dangerous boyfriend story” is pulled right from the newspapers. You seem to read about Carmen and Don Jose just about daily; They are featured on TV shows like Snapped and Forensic Files. People who think opera is out of date are just not paying attention.The themes of operas are as vital and relevant as ever. THAT'S WHY opera continues to be so loved.

It’s been a while since Andrew and I got the opportunity to properly attend a fully staged live opera. But this summer a new company called Finger Lakes Opera is performing Carmen in nearby Geneseo with J’nai Bridges in the title role. So, we had ourselves a bit of an opera date making the 45 minute drive to the SUNY campus for an evening of that familiar but glorious score.

You know, some operas are great for kids and some are completely inappropriate. But when they are on the cusp of dating age? Carmen is almost necessary viewing. Lessons for both boys and girls alike.

• 1.Jealous boys bad; Leads right into an abusive controlling relationship. It takes a while to know a guy before you realize he is dangerous and unhinged. But it all starts with that seemingly flattering jealousy.
• 2.Boys, thinking with your “other brain” will lose you your career , get you court-martialed, lose you the respect of your mother and the nice girl you should have settled down with. And, your life.
• 3.GET A RESTRAINING ORDER! Even the Tarot cards are screaming it.

I once heard opera called the “crash test simulator for life”. No opera better fits this description than Carmen.

Click to see Opera Bracelets evoking the opera Carmen!