By way of NJ...

... by way of D --who is not much of an opera person (D, that is, NJ is a fanatic about teh opera)--so that it got their attention could be an argument in its favor, or not, come to think of it....well no more of that-- is the following bravura aria from Rossini's Zelmira. It is Juliya Lezhneva who is only 18 years old, evidently, and the winner of the Grand Prix in the 6th International E.V.Obraztsova Competition (documentation of all the foregoing available on YouTube). This looks like part of the competition itself (the climactic victor's lap, as it were, or something?) and did I see Felicity Lott on the jury (or have I forgotten what Obraztsova looks like? Or?)? So many questions. ANYWAY, besides the final note, which reminded me of last year's Lucia around here (Private to Juliya: "Listen, girlfriend, don't do it if you can't hold it!"), it's pretty damn good. Listen and see for yourself: