"Not Highfalutin, but Highly Satisfying Indulgences"
The New York Times, February 8, 2008

In which the classical critics of the Times are asked to reveal their secret passions, and I respond by bringing to light my odd obsession with German soprano Simone Kermes. Not odd in the sense that she’s a peculiar or somehow unworthy artist — far from it, in fact. Rather, odd in the sense that Ms. Kermes has compelled me to spend time with — and sometimes track down at considerable expense — discs of repertoire that I would otherwise probably never bother to consider. Trust me, Reichardt and Kozeluch are not staples of my diet, but it was this singer who made me pay attention and gain something from the exposure in the process.

I plan to come back and expand this post a bit later today. For now, I hope you’ll enjoy my confession — and Richard Termine’s fabulous Times photo (above), which neatly illustrates what I was trying to describe of my initial encounter with the striking Ms. Kermes.