As a child, the only place I ever heard opera or classical music was in the dentist's chair, and for years I claimed that classical music made my teeth hurt. But when I was in college, I saw my very first live opera performance (Turandot) at the Baths of Carracalla in Rome , and fell in love. I have been an avid opera fan ever since. I enjoy talking to groups and showing people that opera can be painless.

I gave my first lecture for Lyric Opera in 1979 and have been giving programs at elementary and high schools, libraries, senior centers, churches and synagogues, community centers, hospitals and nursing homes, etc. ever since,

Although I have no singing talent, I have also been on stage in many opera productions at Lyric Opera of Chicago as a “super” (a non singing extra). My first role was in Aida with Pavarotti in 1983. I have done many since then including a dream role as the Baroness in The Gambler. I had the fabulous chance to play one of the non-singing leads and it was the absolute highlight of my opera "career".

Photo: Barbara Roseman as a Supernumerary in the opera “The Gambler” by Sergei Prokofiev (Let me add that some of this is padding)