I was overcome with gratitude at the Folly Theater on Saturday, September 7. As soprano Pretty Yende and pianist Kamal Khan performed Gaetano Donizetti’s exquisite “L’amor funesto”, I knew that I might never again experience a moment so sublime. The discounted tickets I purchased for the Harriman-Jewell Series’ 1,000th concert provided a priceless experience. Having become a fan of the South African star during my pandemic-inspired opera binge, Yende’s spectacular gown, incredible dramatizations and lustrous voice were almost too much to take in from a distance of just 15 feet. Stunned by the artistic perfection before us, my date gasped “what is going on!” We’re still stunned two days later.