A GREAT QUARTET

Early‑1800s opera had a superteam: Rubini, Tamburini, Mario, and Lablache. Rubini once hit a high B‑flat so hard he broke a clavicle—then finished the opera anyway. Tamburini covered for a missing prima donna by putting on her costume and singing her part in falsetto. Mario was an actual Italian count who ditched the title for the stage, and bass Lablache was so strong he’d carry other singers offstage under his arm when the plot required it.