Divamensch

Karen and I saw *Vanessa* at Heartbeat Opera on May 20, 2026. This was one of the cultural events I was most looking forward to this season, for three reasons. First, I've loved *Vanessa* since the 80s. I think it was one of the first opera recordings I bought on CD. An amusing side story: my friend Bill is an opera fanatic, even more fanatical than I. He and his wife had me over for a listening party sometime around 1989. I browsed through his shelves looking for a recording

I think lots of people my age (if they think of Della Reese at all) think of Della Reese as the costar of Touched By An Angel. I never watched that show - - I think of Reese as a singer. I am CRAZY (and I mean crazy) for her album Della Della Cha Cha Cha. "Daddy" is my favorite song on that album. I don't think I've heard anyone else sing it and frankly don't want to. The squeak she adds at the end of the word "daddy" sends me straight to the moon. This is also pretty amazing