William Berger

ANYONE heading to Los Angeles Opera's revival of its Robert Wilson-directed "Madame Butterfly" this month might want to check out a new paperback for insights into the composer, his works and productions such as Wilson's. William Berger, author of "Verdi With a Vengeance" and "Wagner Without Fear," has now turned his considerable, easygoing attention to the man who sustains almost every opera company in the world. The result is "Puccini Without Excuses" (Vintage).

ANYONE heading to Los Angeles Opera's revival of its Robert Wilson-directed "Madame Butterfly" this month might want to check out a new paperback for insights into the composer, his works and productions such as Wilson's. William Berger, author of "Verdi With a Vengeance" and "Wagner Without Fear," has now turned his considerable, easygoing attention to the man who sustains almost every opera company in the world. The result is "Puccini Without Excuses" (Vintage).

A 55-year-old Anaheim woman was found dead in her home, apparently of a gunshot wound and her husband was arrested on suspicion of murder, police said. Officers responding to a report of a shooting at a North Lotus Place address found the body of Maxine Margaret Berger in a bedroom, said Anaheim police Sgt. James Santoro. The suspect, William Berger, 59, was arrested at the scene and booked at the Anaheim Police Department.

A 55-year-old Anaheim woman was found dead in her home, apparently of a gunshot wound and her husband was arrested on suspicion of murder, police said. Officers responding to a report of a shooting at a North Lotus Place address found the body of Maxine Margaret Berger in a bedroom, said Anaheim police Sgt. James Santoro. The suspect, William Berger, 59, was arrested at the scene and booked at the Anaheim Police Department.

A state board granted Southern Pacific Milling Co. a minor victory Friday in its effort to mine 500 acres west of Fillmore when it designated the land a significant mining resource area. The designation by the State Board of Mines and Geology does not guarantee SP Milling approval from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, but it theoretically makes the project more difficult to reject, opponents to the project say.

Long Beach Yacht Club's Congressional Cup races March 10-16 could be a preview of the America's Cup competition, judging from the tentative list of entries announced by Brian Donaldson, general chairman.

Following a monthlong investigation, police have arrested two men suspected of operating an Orange County credit card pyramid scheme. Robert Joseph Shea, 40, of Garden Grove and Michael William Berger, 37, of Placentia were arrested by detectives on Tuesday following a meeting with prospective customers at a meeting hall of the Westminster Manor, said Westminster Police Detective Robert Gill. The two men, connected to Inglewood-based Credit Card Bank Club Inc.

Amid the flurry of round-numbered commemorations this year, Henry Purcell -- born 350 years ago -- finally had his day in the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday night. Nicholas McGegan, the jolly elf of the period performance scene, brought his crack Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale down from the Bay Area as part of a West Coast tour. He also brought the tall, Texas-raised star mezzo-soprano Susan Graham for her Disney Hall debut and a first-class cast of singers.

Classical music fans have reason to be excited that the Los Angeles Opera production of Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold" -- the first opera in Wagner's epic 15-hour, four-opera cycle "The Ring of the Nibelung" -- opens tonight at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Nearly two dozen top mutual fund managers gathered in Chicago earlier this month at a conference sponsored by Morningstar Inc., the fund-rating organization. They talked about their favorite stocks, their favorite bonds, market conditions and all sorts of indicators, statistics, ratios and other financial flotsam and jetsam that may or may not ultimately lead to investment success.

Migratory birds got a break from the cold, but allergy sufferers got a headache Wednesday as balmy Santa Ana winds wafted temperatures into the high 80s. The dry desert winds warmed feathered visitors flying through Southern California, but for those who had to stay and smell the flowers, it wasn't fun. "The wind transfers pollen, mold, and dust . . .