BD gifts: My mom gave me a ticket for Bonn Opera's production of Händel's Xerxes -- a simply riveting, tongue in cheek production setting the story in a dictatorial fairy tale puppet theatre (yes, there apparently is such a thing) -- and my BFF raided my Ammy wishlist ... as well as adding a few things along the lines of "all things kitties."  I'm feeling very much spoiled!

Bonn Opera's promo clip for Puccini's La Bohème (2016-17 season), starring Sumi Hwang as Mimi.

Ahem.  We now (finally) return you to your schelduled reading ...

Sumi Hwang: "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" from Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème -- this is a televised concert performance, but she's been on stage in Bonn as Mimi as recently as last season, too.

"Lascia ch'io pianga" from Georg Friedrich Händel's Rinaldo, as performed by Renee Fleming.

Bonn Opera's promo clip for Le Nozze di Figaro.