As we enter a New Year, it seems appropriate to heighten the
cultural level of the Risk Tip. Sure, Dr. Seuss is fun.
And who doesn’t enjoy reports of the latest
Kardashian exploits. But perhaps it’s time to
employ high culture over pop culture to convey risk management
advice.
To that end, I went to the opera over the holiday break.
Though not my favorite, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is an
enjoyable romp with a suitably ridiculous plot characteristic of
opera buffa. The rich Count Almaviva falls for the
beautiful Rosina, ward of the lecherous Dr. Bartolo who has his own
designs on Rosina, whom he keeps under lock and key. Wanting
to be sure Rosina doesn’t just fall for him because
he’s rich, Almaviva poses as the poor student Lindoro.
Almaviva/Lindoro and the wily Figaro hatch a series of schemes
aimed at foiling Dr. Bartolo and uniting the two lovers.
Operatic hilarity (as oxymoronic as that may sound) ensues.
