#Octaver Day 18: an Artist I Would Have Wanted to Perform at My Eighteenth Birthday Party

I used to think this lady was the best coloratura soprano in the world, and I wanted to emulate her and become an opera singer because of her. (I'm pretty sure this was before I heard of all the temper tantrums she used to throw at the met, some of which resulted in her losing her contract). Anyway, I was totally into her music around the time I turned eighteen, and I think if I could have chosen anyone to sing at my party, it would have been her. :-) I used to sing this particular aria, or parts of it, all the time, and it annoyed the shite out of my non-opera-loving friends - one of whom may actually hear this. So I'm posting it for old time's sake. This is the aria Je Suis Titania la Blonde from the opera Mignon by Ambroise Thomas. The singer, whom I still like well enough but no longer utterly adore, is Kathleen Battle. No offense Kathleen, but my horizons have been considerably broadened since my eighteenth year, and I've heard a lot of better singers between then and now. :-P I actually prefer Beverly Sills singing this nowadays. #KathleenBattle #Mignon #music #Octaver #opera