Submitted by Evelyn Simon, Dec 4, 2007 12:36

Dear Mr. Nordlinger,

In defense of those of us who were surprised by Matthew Polenzani's final encore, it had been preceded by something Mr. Drake said about an Italian song by an Italian composer - or words to that effect which, forgive me, I can't quote, leading us to expect something in Italian. When it turned out to be an Irish song - THE Irish song (which Mr. Polenzani sang divinely) - the audience reacted. I agree wholeheartedly with your column headline, it was a downright heavenly recital.

Evelyn Simon

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