“Are you in a show?” she asked. Yes, Blue said—“Aida,” at the Met Opera. Her companion added that Blue was starring in it. The museumgoer’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow!” she said.

“When you look at the history of Grand Opera, you see a lot of operas that are set in exotic locales,” he said, citing “Aida” along with “Madama Butterfly,” set in Japan, and “Turandot,” set in China, ...

citing "Aida" along with "Madama Butterfly," set in Japan, and "Turandot," set in China, as prime examples. Opera singers Judith Kutasi (L) and Angel Blue perform during Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida" at ...