httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iMcvwERomQ

Happy 82nd birthday mezzo-soprano Yvonne Minton.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GApBX1zXVEo

On this day in 1993 Angela Gheorghiu made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.

Alex Ross in The New York Times:

Angela Gheorghiu, a Romanian soprano who has sung at Covent Garden and the Vienna State Opera, is the new Mimi. On Thursday night, her voice showed admirable qualities: lustrous dark tone, steady attacks in all registers, inoffensive vibrato and a spectacular dynamic control allowing her to move effortlessly from clarion fortissimos to silken pianissimos. Unfortunately, this was all; one waited in vain for a strong expressive or dramatic dimension. At times, she simply practiced a highbrow form of crooning. Still, the preternatural beauty of the voice made a lingering impression.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G8GGln4cyo

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