I've been watching "Carmen" -- the one with Placido and Julia Migenes-Johnson. I wondered what'd happened to her, but nothing, really -- she seems as though she wears too many hats. Carmen is a mezzo role and she's a soprano, so she never could've sung Carmen onstage, but she made a great movie Carmen. I saw it with my mum when it came out (in 84? around then) and of course it has my fave of 25 years standing, Ruggero Raimondi as Escamillo. Watching it after so many years I'm impressed all over again at Placido -- this role is more of a stretch than Cavaradossi, I think, as Placido is such a nice man and Don Jose expresses such fury. I'll never forget after the Mexico City earthquake, how Placido was right in there digging out some relatives, heedless of the damage to his voice. I was surfing last night looking for Julia Migenes (no "Johnson" now) and found a photo of Ruggero singing a benefit for Special Olympics (Monaco). Two very nice men.

I also stumbled across "A Tribute to Justino Diaz" and I flew off the handle -- "Oh my God! What happened ti him??? Did he die???" No, no -- he's fine, but I'm a little highly strung.

In fact: Have been listening to the High Strung ever since I got their CD. It's good.