Two opera veterans share perspectives from their well-earned thrones.
Playwright and opera director Jonathan Miller, who turns 80 next year, speaks out on ageism in the arts:
"When you get to my age, there's a certain point at which you're assumed to be dead" [...] "Ageism has treated me badly. But it's also treated lots of other people badly as well. People assume that you ought to be cheerful all the way and I've got this, I think, unjustified reputation for being grumpy. I'm angry or disappointed at the condescension which I encounter from people who are 30 years younger than I am and know 100 per cent less than I do. That's all."
Ten years his senior, Franco Zeffirelli, who turns 90 on Tuesday, says that he has a few projects up his sleeve. He cites Maria Callas as his favorite diva and says that as someone who knew her, it's all that one needs.