Mucci

Joining Mr. Mucci on the very first night was the Russian pianist Iya Fedotova, who was about 70 at the time.

In Midtown, an Opera House Party Will Friedwald 2011

"He was too old to sing," Mr. Mucci said of Corelli, "but his presence both inspired and intimidated the young singers—it was like acting students working in front of Laurence Olivier."

In Midtown, an Opera House Party Will Friedwald 2011

Among them were two heavyweights on the board: Marielle Theron, a veteran from global insurer Swiss Re and Tony Coleman, chief risk officer of Insurance Australia Group, apart from William Beaty and Richard Mucci, the nominees from New York Life.

Ranbaxy Heir's Future-Proof Strategy 2011

Not long after it opened, Mr. Mucci launched the cafe's weekly opera night, a gathering of aspiring singers and hungry music lovers.

In Midtown, an Opera House Party Will Friedwald 2011

That's the dream of impresario Leopoldo Mucci, who in 1995 founded Caffe Taci on West 110th Street and Broadway.

In Midtown, an Opera House Party Will Friedwald 2011

Sitting at the front table, Mr. Mucci said he realized that his idea was a success when, within the first year or so, opera celebrities like the famed tenor Franco Corelli began coming in.

In Midtown, an Opera House Party Will Friedwald 2011

Among them were two heavyweights on the board: Marielle Theron, a veteran from global insurer Swiss Re and Tony Coleman, chief risk officer of Insurance Australia Group, apart from William Beaty and Richard Mucci, the nominees from New York Life.

Ranbaxy Heir's Future-Proof Strategy 2011

Among them were two heavyweights on the board: Marielle Theron, a veteran from global insurer Swiss Re and Tony Coleman, chief risk officer of Insurance Australia Group, apart from William Beaty and Richard Mucci, the nominees from New York Life.

Ranbaxy Heir's Future-Proof Strategy 2011

"We have kept going for 16 years, without an intermission," said Mr. Mucci, who calls himself the "Missionary of Opera" and is quick to point out that he is from Modena, also the home of Luciano Pavarotti.

In Midtown, an Opera House Party Will Friedwald 2011

They called me in and said, “Colonel Mucci wants you to put your company on alert because we got a mission.”

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002