Opera is, of course, a perilous business, and even the finest managers have dozens of flops.

NEWYORKER: Diminuendo

And while the opera's ending is, of course, never in doubt, I still find myself thinking that maybe this time Cavaradossi and Tosca will escape the clutches of Scarpia's henchmen, so vital is the spirit that Ms. Callas and Mr. di Stefano bring to their roles.

WSJ: Maria Callas | Puccini's Tosca | The Measure of a Diva | Masterpiece by David Mermelstein

Of course, as an opera singer I've now sung in 11 or 12 languages, but how many people get to say that they've sung in Zulu?

CNN: All-American opera singer finds South African soul

The darling music venue of the city is, of course, the Vienna State Opera House in the 1st District.

BBC: Finding your rhythm in Vienna

In the course of introducing a film at the Sheridan Opera House, a beautiful little jewel box of a theater that dates back to the 19th century, a bright young woman said Sandra Bernhard had played there.

WSJ: Telluride Thrills

Before a capacity crowd of more than 100, 000 people, the 86-year-old and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were driven on to the course as opera singer Katherine Jenkins sang the national anthem.

CNN: Camelot makes history as Queen watches

In addition to several cons that will unfurl over the course of the show, they say the series will operate on a broader, more traditional soap opera canvas with dueling lives, wives and fathers as fodder.

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