Baritone Ian Vayne thought he was headed to his local opera house to spend a relaxing evening watching a new production of Bizet’s Carmen. Instead, Vayne wound up on stage in the role of Escamillo after the scheduled singer was felled by a heart attack. He knew the part, but had only fifteen minutes to learn the staging and choreography for the show. He received a standing ovation for his trouble, as well as the undying gratitude of the company.