That fellow in the picture is portraying Harlequin in a version of a Petipa classic. He enables me to title the latest episode of my Jaywalking podcast “Leaps and Bounds.” I play a little music from the ballet — as turned into a pop song, which our grandparents and great-grandparents listened to (especially if they were Italian). I play a recording by Beniamino Gigli, the immortal tenor, who was revered by Pavarotti, among many others.

In this episode, I have several matters historical — Neville Chamberlain, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan — and several matters current, including Trump, Putin, and Kim. There is a piano piece by Takemitsu and a chorus from Messiah, “Lift up your heads.” It does, too (lift up your head).