59. "Faust" by Charles Gounod, Jules Barbier, and Michel Carré

This was the first public performance given by Ruth Ann Swenson since it was announced last fall that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm not sure what her bill of health is these days, but what I can say is that her Marguerite continues to be nothing short of glorious. And as if I didn't know it already, her curtain call was evidence enough. I'm already looking forward to her Cleopatra, as well as her Agrippina. Positively golden indeed.