The First Line in Aida

. All those people dressed in designated uniforms with different kinds of hats all mill around while the orchestra plays. They are habit machines, expectation machines who make things work, who are what has to work. Suddenly, one with a dome on his head moves into prominence. He is the only one who may speak. He has to speak. A baritone. He sets the day. We expect the baritone to speak. He fills the gap. And when the speech in his singing terminates. The machine of the day moves music, arms, and legs.