beauty

Wednesday, riding the A train home after swimming, a woman came into the nearly empty car. She looked Brazilian, or Mexican maybe. She began to sing "O Mio Bubbino Caro" from Puccini's GIANNI SCHICCHI in such a beautiful rich soprano, dark-hued like she was. I was nearly stunned at first, as I am usually inured to the various subway performers who are regulars on the A/C line (except for the drummers; I really like the drummers). But this aria is one of the most beautiful ever written, and her singing was so gorgeous. She flubbed the melody a bit, which made me think that she probably did not read music but had learned the piece by ear. I got tears in my eyes. I gave her five dollars.