Leo Nucci, the world's greatest Verdi baritone, whipped the Teatro Real's audience to a such a frenzy with his "Vendetta, Tremenda Vendetta" that he had to give an encore -- a first for Teatro Real.
Antonio Moral, general manager of the Spanish house, told El Pais: "Esto es histórico".
As someone who has enjoyed the privilege of basking in the art of Signor Nucci -- a humble man, he does not want to be addressed as "maestro" -- Opera Chic can only say, if you haven't heard him sing Rigoletto, you missed out on one of the (few) absolutely great, history-making performers of our time.