+++
author = ["authors/jenna.md"]
categories = "Humour"
date = "2015-05-15T12:52:00-04:00"
lastmod = "2015-05-20T13:44:00-04:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1431960472526/Letterman_Fotor.jpg.jpg"
publishDate = "2015-05-20T13:30:00-04:00"
related_articles = ["articles/netflix-why-not-opera.md","articles/the-brief-history-of-madefortv-opera.md"]
related_companies = ["scene/companies/the-metropolitan-opera.md"]
related_people = ["scene/people/renee-fleming.md","scene/people/joyce-didonato.md"]
short_description = "In case you haven&#039;t heard, David Letterman is retiring from his late-night hosting duties tonight. So, I went to work finding some opera on the Late Show, as my small but mighty nod to Letterman and his 33-year career (22 years on CBS, 11 on NBC)."
slug = "opera-on-letterman"
title = "Opera on Letterman"
+++

In case you haven't heard, David Letterman is [retiring](http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/david-letterman-retiring-in-2015-20140403) from his late-night hosting duties on May 20th. That's tonight! So, I went to work finding some opera on the *Late Show*, as my small but mighty nod to Letterman and his 33-year career (22 years on CBS, 11 on NBC).

First up: Renée Fleming sings Letterman's Top 10. 

<figure data-type="video">
<iframe width="854" height="510" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CSSXzN2-vWY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

On a more serious note, Letterman had Jessye Norman on last year. The interview is below, and you can [click here to watch her sing "Midnight Special."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7rkTYFN6h8&spfreload=1) How fun would it have been for her to bust out some Wagner? Maybe a few years earlier...

<figure data-type="video">
<iframe width="854" height="510" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ea9KNQVArMs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

That's sort of it for opera and Letterman, unless you count [this impersonal (and poorly excerpted) promo spot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeTUKffXtjc) for the Metropolitan Opera's 2007 *Il barbiere di Siviglia*.

I can't really argue with the three-decade career in show business, though. Letterman isn't my favourite late-night host, but I think there's something to be said for longevity. Maybe some more of this "fine arts" stuff will make it on to *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*, set to succeed Letterman post-retirement. [Colbert likes opera](http://www.ovguide.com/tv_episode/the-colbert-report-season-4-episode-61-nathan-gunn-365962), after all.

We'll miss you, David!
