My Impromptus today is devoted to the Topic of the Hour in these parts — Jim Buckley. Our editorial appreciation covered a lot. But there is always more to say, and I have said some of it in my column. For instance, WFB once told me a story about his father — which I went on to relate in some piece. Jim wrote me a letter of correction, saying, “I am the reliable chronicler as I was almost three years older.”

Treat yourself to a podcast with Lea Desandre. She is my guest on Q&A, here. Lea is a young mezzo-soprano from France. Her father is Italian, her mother French. Lea is appearing at the Salzburg Festival this year, and it is there that we had our talk. We had it on a terrace, fairly high in the sky, looking out onto the hills — as in, “The hills are alive” (“with the sound of music”). Lea is, in fact, a fan of Julie Andrews. This coming season, in Rouen, she will do a tribute concert to her.

Before she turned to singing, Lea studied dance. Early in our podcast, I ask her, “Could you have been a professional dancer, if you had wanted?” Modestly, diplomatically, she answers, “I think we can become anything we want.” (I think the answer is yes.) (I also don’t think I can become a starting pitcher — or even a bench-warmer — for the Detroit Tigers.)

I suggest to Lea that, if she had continued in dance, she would be the best singer in that profession; and that, as it stands, she is the best dancer in singing. This, she will consider.

Discussing her favorite singers, all-time, Lea Desandre names Frederica von Stade — who, as it happens, was my guest on Q&A last month (here). “Every time I go to America, I hope to meet her,” says Lea, “but it has never happened. So if you can help me with that . . .”

I think I can.

Toward the end of our conversation, we get onto the subject of books — books that mean a lot to people, at different times in their lives. Lea talks about Les Misérables, which means so much to Frenchmen, and others. I talk a little about Bleak House — and my struggle to read it over the years. (I stopped struggling at some point. Maybe I should re-struggle.)

Lea has not yet fallen for Proust, but she expects to do so, in the fullness of time. (Same.) (Though I’d better hurry up.) I mention Michael Potemra, NR’s late literary editor. He read everything. Everything. Once, he made a list of his top 100 books. In the No. 1 position was Proust.

(He also made a list of his top 100 movies. At the head was The Conversation, directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1974.)

The sublime Antoine de Saint-Exupéry published The Little Prince in 1943, the year before he died. Lea has a favorite passage from that book: “Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d’un rêve, une réalité.” (“Make of your life a dream, and of a dream, a reality.” Personally, I would add: Let it be a good dream.)

A visit with Lea Desandre could not be more refreshing. Again, treat yourself.