August 2012
Just for you girls, Betsy turns her headlights on a nice handful of operas that will no doubt prove to be bags of fun.
The dynamic American singing actress celebrates the 90th anniversary of her birth today.
New York City Ballet presents a rare staging of the only Stravinsky-Aristophanes collaboration.
Out of nowhere, Santa Fe Opera’s chief conductor Frédéric Chaslin has resigned his position.
Those of you who have longed to see a theme-park production of Gounod’s simple, romantic opera Romeo et Juliette, rejoice!
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for the New York City Opera is now offering subscriptions to its [2012-]2013 season.
Just for fun on a Monday morning: supply a caption to the above photograph.
To imagine that I have anything new to say about Maria Callas’ 1957 performance of Anna Bolena at La Scala is sheer pomposity.
Take a boozy short leave of your nymphos on shore, and enjoy your weekly intermission chat, cher public.
Our Own Betsy cries, “Grab your spoon and dish: it’s Saturday chat time!”
For Rufus Wainwright, sitting in a dressing room backstage at Latitude festival, rock ‘n’ roll habits die hard.
The Met has managed to scrape up enough money (hitting up donors and dipping into its own coffers) to finance the rush ticket program for 2012-13.
After 23 years, the Queen of Carthage has finally made it to Manhattan.
Which one of “the world’s leading classical singers” is currently seeking a personal assistant?
Camille Saint-Saëns was such a brilliant, facile musician that pals like Wagner and Liszt felt a distinct schadenfreude when he suffered composer’s block.
“Last Chance! Get an Extra 25% Off Your Next Purchase”
La Cieca has always, against all odds, maintained that if there is one expression that best describes the mind of the average member of the cher public, that would be “plus vive que l’oiseau, plus prompte que l’éclair.”
The Met press department wisely isn’t waiting until the last minute to start announcing cast changes for autumn 2012.
Rule Britannia? Often during the Olympics that famous number from Thomas Arne’s 1740 Alfred echoed in my ears.
Like New Yorkers, opera tends to flee the city in summer.
Here’s looking forward to an exciting, celebrity-filled intermission as you, the cher public, discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Our Own Betsy yelps, “Stop the presses! We interrupt this program to bring you this special bulletin!”
Karol Szymanowski’s 1926 King Roger was the sleeper hit of SFO’s season, not so much for its weird, mystical theme and feeble libretto but because the music is powerfully effective.
Those adorable kids over at EMI Classics have followed up the ridiculous with the sublime: an mp3 download of 50 arias (over four hours of music) sung by Maria Callas for… are you ready? 99 cents.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
