I'm closing out the week with two Spanish divas, both singing the same thing, "Tu che le vanita" from Verdi's *Don Carlo*:
Diva: Montserrat Caballé
Mensch: Pilar Lorengar
They're a clear cut case of Diva vs Mensch. Caballé's focus seems to be, "See all the gorgeous things I can do with my voice?" while Lorengar seems more concerned with, "That Verdi, he was a genius, am I right?" It's a shame that the Lorengar performance isn't live, but you get the picture.
Let me send a prayer up to the heavens - - the Met is supposed to be doing a new production of *Don Carlo* this coming season, the original French version for the first time, with the divine Sonya Yoncheva as Elisabeth. I'm rather skeptical about anything happening live in a large theater these days, so cross your fingers this actually happens.
¡Maravilloso!
Q: What do you get when two Spanish and one Bulgarian Diva walk into a bar, rather onto the stage at the Met?
A: Pure beauty, sent down from the heavens.