Judith Blegen radiates charm in effortless coloratura

THE SONGBIRD: Judith Blegen is from Kentucky. Born in 1943, she attended high school in Montana and began studying voice and violin. Her operatic debut was as Olympia in Nuremberg in 1965, followed by a Vienna State Opera debut as Rosina in 1968. The Met first hired her in 1970 as Papagena; she became a favorite there, singing over 200 performances of 19 roles, and several galas. She was very active in commercial recordings in the 1970s and 80s, appearing as the soprano soloist in recordings of nearly all the popular concert works, as well as several operas, and at least three solo recital discs. She was a regular guest on The Johnny Carson Show. THE MUSIC: "O luce di quest'anima" is the entrance aria for the title character from Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix," which premiered in Vienna in 1842. The opera never really caught on with the public in part due to its tone: it's a melodrama with light and dark elements in a genre known as "opera semiseria." Though the full opera is rarely performed, this aria is ubiquitous in recitals and concerts due to its catchy, repetitive tune and bravura elements, with embellishments that often vary from singer to singer. The aria was added by Donizetti for a revival that featured prima donna Fanny Tacchinardi Persiani (the original Lucia di Lammermoor).