Turandot's Ukulele is an endearing story about a boy's love for his aunt, an elderly spinster who introduces him to grand opera at the Metropolitan. It also validates great music's power to remove the stings of tragedy, transform the simplest lives, and inspire startling ideas. Fascinated by the Hawaiian ukulele, as well as loving Puccini's Turandot, our young operagoer sees no reason why "the plinky-plunky splendour of the leaping flea" can't be part of the Met's huge orchestra, right in there with the loudest trumpets and the big Chinese gong. Told as a fond remembrance filled with droll...