Crossword Genius

Opera fan starts to see assorted Verdi offerings at the Garden (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

savoyard

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'opera fan' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'starts to see assorted verdi offerings at the garden' is the wordplay.
'starts to' suggests taking the first letters.
'at' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the garden' becomes 'yard' (I have seen 'American garden' mean 'yard' so perhaps 'garden' could also mean 'yard').
The first letters of 'see assorted verdi offerings' is 'savo'.
'savo'+'yard'='SAVOYARD'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for savoyard that I've seen before include "GS fan" , "G & S devotee" , "light opera performer" , "G&S aficionado" , "Southern Frenchman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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