Realism Masked In Verdi Libretto

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA By Giuseppe Verdi. Opera Australia, State Theatre, April 16 until May 10. Running time: 170 minutes www.opera-australia.org.au

Column 8

From a year 5 kid on the train, reports Andrew Tiedt, of Sydney: "I can't wait to do chemistry. In chemistry, there are no wrong answers." "That's certainly not my recollection of chemistry," Andrew says, "but perhaps times have changed." If so, it could be an improvement. Column 8 well remembers almost killing itself by getting an answer wrong in chemistry, when a pile of powdered magnesium exploded in its face.