Believe it or not, the concept for the Opera Titles system was born in a Santa Fe saloon! The Opera’s then technical director, Patrick Markle, and Geoff Webb, a design engineer working at the Metropolitan Opera, sketched out the idea on some bar napkins.

The idea? Place a small computer screen in front of every seat in the opera house, where a translation of what was being sung would be projected simultaneously.

The benefits? Unlike traditional supertitles, which are projected on a screen above the stage, the screen would be in the line of vision for patrons as they look at the stage. No more head-bobbing to read the texts! Also, each patron can choose whether or not to view the titles.

The result? You’ll understand every dramatic moment and laugh at all the comic moments. No more “being in the dark” once the performance begins. The Opera Titles system here offers instant translations in your choice of English or Spanish.

So when you see the same system at The Metropolitan Opera or Covent Garden, at La Scala or the Vienna State Opera, just remember that it all began in Santa Fe, thanks to some innovative employees…and a couple of margaritas!

To learn more about the Opera Titles technology and the many venues where it has been installed, visit Figaro Systems, Inc.