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46 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2026 When describing 55+ communities like ours, it is often said that our population needs a sturdy three-legged stool for successful retirement and/or aging. The legs are Social, Health & Wellness, and Education. Four Seasons obviously has a strong Social leg. Our Health & Wellness leg is getting noticeably stronger. But, while we have some good educational offerings, that third leg for continuing "brain engagement" is not as strong as it could be. Under the recommendation of the Community Planning Committee, a group of 19 residents is working to build and strengthen educational opportunities by forming "LifeLong Learners at Four Seasons Beaumont." This group is exploring the potential for a LifeLong Learning Program here, a program similar to successful programs at many other 55+ premier communities. The fundamental goal is to provide life-enriching learning opportunities for residents. No tests, no homework, no pressure — just fun exploring new topics and ideas. As a whole, Four Seasons residents have extraordinary backgrounds and expertise to share. Our working group will attempt to construct a dynamic program involving speakers, classes, seminars, and workshops. We hope to include regional experts as well as Four Seasons residents presenting programs of interest. Nominal areas might include the humanities, fine arts, science and technology, digital literacy, local history, economics, civics, wellness, and the art of cooking. It is intended that there be no registration fees or financial motives in the program. Upcoming programs will be reported in future issues of the Breeze and Activities Blast. If you would like to be involved or contribute program suggestions, please contact Elaine Wilson at elaine.wilson11@ icloud.com. ~ Jane Hooper and Doug Streuber On April 10, we present one of the world's most popular operas, Georges Bizet's Carmen. According to Operabase, Carmen is the third most popular opera in the canon (La Traviata is rst). e runtime is two hours and 50 minutes. e performance will begin at 6 pm and we won't have time for an intermission. But we also won't need to have a pre-opera lecture. Carmen is an instance where opera culture and popular culture have overlapped for more than a century. anks to Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang, everyone on the planet knows the three major arias, the "Habanera," "Seguidilla," and "Toreado Song." We will stream the Metropolitan Opera's 2014 production of the ery Spanish gypsy. is version of Bizet's opera is set in 1930s Spain. Carmen declares in her "Habanera" that if you don't love her, she may love you and if she loves you, watch out! is is put into play early on with Don Jose. Aer Carmen's aria, we meet Micaela, Don Jose's hometown sweetheart who is caring for his ailing mother and who is now carrying the mother's message to Seville. Micaela is the only good person in the opera and Anita Hartig is the best Micaela there is. Don Jose's mother is requesting that he return home and marry Micaela. Micaela's "good girl" stands is sharp contrast with the "bad girl," Carmen. Don Jose's mother probably said something like, "at Carmen, she will come to no good end." Ironically, she meets her demise at Don Jose's hands. In case you need a refresher on Carmen, the synopsis, an English libretto and links to three good versions are posted on the Opera Club website, fsbopera.org. Coming up: Whereas Buttery and Carmen have been two "easy" operas, in May and June we take a deep academic dive exploring the fall of Troy through Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas in May, and with Hector Berlioz' monumental Les Troyens in June. So, dig up your copy of Virgil and settle in for the Aeneid's 10,000 epic lines of dactylic hexameter. See you at the opera! ~ Harvey Toyama, admin@fsbopera.org, (951) 524-3765 Opera Club LifeLong Learners Anita Rachvelishvili as Carmen Trojan Horse NEW club!