Donna and Cecilia

Donna listened to WFMT every weekday, all day long. She would listen to the radio station's internet stream, so no matter where we lived she could tune in her favorite classical music station.

It was on WFMT that Donna first heard mezzo-soprano opera singer and recitalist Cecilia Bartoli. I think it was love at first sing. Donna purchased a number of Bartoli's recordings and listened to them again and again.

We read that Cecelia Bartoli would be performing at Chicago's Symphony Center. I asked Donna if she would like to attend. Donna answered yes in the blink of an eye. I called about tickets. The performance was sold out except for one box seat held by a season subscriber who couldn't attend. I invested in that box seat, and explained the situation to Donna. She was saddened that we couldn't attend together, but thrilled to go nonetheless. A box seat! That was a first.

On the day of the performance I drove Donna to the front entrance of Symphony Center, then I walked around downtown Chicago till it was time to pick her up. When she was back in the car I asked her to tell me about the performance. Donna said, "It was beautiful," then started to cry. A rare occasion, as Donna almost never cried. Cecilia Bartoli's performance moved her to tears of joy.