THE BIGGEST LOSS TO THE WORLD OF MUSIC IN 2017

Looking back at year end: Music lovers' biggest loss in 2017: the velvety voice that reigned over the dome of opera houses and recital halls; the most beautiful, powerful, and magnetic stage presence ever in operatic history since Maria Callas, the irresistible earthiest of manhood, with sparkling stars in his eyes and warmth on the curve of his smile: from the romantic Tatar of North Asia of the earlier days transformed into the silver maned heartthrob, the maestro who battled death with exhaustion on his aging handsome face, yet his expressive lips still delivered the unbeatable soaring voice from his soul: from Don Giovanni to the Demon to complex Onegin to hunchback to Figaro: The opera, Russia, and hundreds of years of classical music the world over lost their favorite son.

Endless applause to you, bravo and forever...

DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY