Something unspoken

A brace of profiles in the March issue of Opera News engage the reader in a fascinating game of “the same, but different.” Simon Keenlyside and Paulo Szot are both baritones; both handsome, sexy men; and they’re both adept in classical and more modern musical theater forms. Both gentlemen are starring in new productions at the Met this spring, too. So… what is it that sets these two fellows apart?

Mr. Keenlyside, we learn, is “a family man now, having married Royal Ballet principal dancer Zenaida Yanowsky in 2006. Their son turned one year old last fall, and another child is on the way.”

Alas, poor Mr. Szot has never had any sort of personal relationship in his entire life — or at least none that the overwhelmingly homosexual Opera News editorial staff deems acceptable enough to mention.

No, don’t bother to check your calendar. It’s 2010.