Interesting story. Not an opera story, but it happened in Spain.

I had a meeting in Amsterdam, but at the time a circle return ticket was available, including a stop in Madrid. I wanted to see Avila, and took a train. I was happily wandering around, when I was stopped by two very polite Guardia Civil, in their stiff black tricorne hats.

They took me to headquarters, and to an office with many books on the shelves.
The man who came in was in a suit, and had a small beard.
he asked me what I was doing. He asked me lots of questions- all to do with the English language.
Differences in numbers was one subject. In Spanish, 22 would be twenty and two and a date would be 19 and ought two.
He seemed to be a well-read man and very polite. At the end, he recommended a good place to eat. Never any mention of why I was picked up; probably because I was alone, and believe it or not, I saw no tourists- (cliché warning) off the beaten track.

Getting back to opera, I have a baroque French opera in which the singers used the manner of the stage of the times. Many exaggerated hand and body movements emphasize the dialogue. I'll dig it out and post some details tomorrow.