On this day, 12 March, in 1857, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, “Simon Boccanegra” opened in Venice, Italy.

One hundred thirty years later, on 12 March 1987, “Les Miserables” opened on Broadway in New York for its first of over 4000 performances. Only another 100 years or so will judge which is the greater work.

As for me, I’ll take Simon and Garfunkel’s 12 March 1969 Grammy for “Mrs. Robinson.” While I enjoy the theater, I’ll take a masterful soundtrack riding behind classic cinema any day over a fat guy singing his dialogue.