Puccini's birthday!

Give yourself a present. If there was ever a tenor as good as Jussi Björling, I never heard him. Some sopranos are probably as good as Victoria de los Angeles, but few are better (Price, of course, will always be number 1). And if all you remember about Robert Merrill is that he used to appear on the Ed Sullivan show, then you've got to hear him on this recording.

Two related bits:

• Victoria de los Angeles did Carmen with Placido Domingo. She is perfect. (Whoever thought an opera singer could be sexy?) It's available on video. Get it. Watch it. Thrill to it.
• If you can get me a copy of the La Boheme video with José Carreras and Barbara Hendrix, you'll be my best friend for (what little is probably left of my) life.