The littlest angel

A member of the cher public who attended yesterday’s Met Guild luncheon honoring Frederica von Stade reports: “Evelyn Lear went so far as to call [Flicka] ‘Mother Teresa — a saint.’ As part of his homage, Thomas Hampson sang one of the Cherubino arias — it was really sweet.

“He introduced the piece by saying that when Flicka began her career, he was still ‘playing with Lincoln Logs.’ (She jeered!) Then he got out his lyric sheet for the aria and fiddled with his reading glasses. ‘So much for the Lincoln Logs,’ she sang.”

“I have never heard so many people ardently praise someone’s goodness. Trust me — they sure didn’t at the luncheon for Zeffirelli two years ago!”