Divamensch

Stephanie and I heard the Mahler 2nd symphony at Carnegie Hall on Mar 10, 2026. It was a performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra and chorus conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin featuring soprano Ying Fang and mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato. This was my second time hearing it but since the previous time was over 25 years ago, it felt like a new piece. I was a little alarmed that the opening sounded so much like the opening of *Die Walküre* but he turned the corner pretty quickly,

We have a nice pair for Best Actor in a Play and Best Actress in a Play in 1961: Diva: Zero Mostel in Rhinoceros Mensch: Joan Plowright in A Taste of Honey Here's a photo of Mostel in what appears to be a carefully measured and understated performance: And Plowright chewing the scenery and blowing the roof off the joint: