December 2015
Those who enjoyed (at least aurally) the Met’s recent La Donna del Lago may be craving more of the master from Pesaro, so 2015’s final “Trove Thursday” presents Torvaldo e Dorliska.
On this day in 535 Belisarius completed the conquest of Sicily.
It would be generous to say that history comes alive on the operatic stage.
On this day in 1927 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari‘s opera Sly premiered at La Scala.
“Els tenors José Cura i Carl Tanner cantaran el rol d’Otello en l’òpera de Verdi en substitució d’Aleksandrs Antonenko…”
The already legendary performance of that role of roles Madame Rose by the ineffable Imelda Staunton may now be seen on YouTube.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Yusif Eyvazov, who were married in Vienna just now.
Born on this day in 1938 actress and producer Mary Tyler Moore.
Fans of divas who sing 19th and 20th century opera may find themselves searching in vain for CDs to buy with this season’s gift cards, since their idols so rarely put out solo recitals these days.
Dame Josephine Barstow (not pictured) is seeking planning permission to build a Malthouse Arabians stableyard.
A much-loved diva overdue for this site is Anna Moffo.
On this day in 1910 Engelbert Humperdinck’s “other” opera Königskinder premiered at the Met.
On this day in 1927 the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical Show Boat premiered.
Brian Kellow (not pictured) boasts, “Peggy Noonan, interviewed in last Sunday’s New York Times Book Review, mentioned that Can I Go Now? is on her nightstand.”
On this day premiered three masterpieces of the primo ottocento: Anna Bolena in 1830, Norma in 1831 and Lucia di Lammermoor in 1835.
In addition to the dates noted by WindyCityOperaman, today also also marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Birgit Nilsson.
On this day we at parterre box are always reminded of the heartwarming words of the immortal Hedda Hopper.
On this day in 1928 the first broadcast of “The Voice of Firestone” was heard.
Which soprano/tenor team won’t have to hunt very hard for a triumph on December 31. 2016, when the Met reunites them for a new production of Roméo et Juliette?
“Dmitri Hvorostovsky has withdrawn from his upcoming performances of Verdi’s Il Trovatore—February 3, 6, 9, and 13 matinee—due to his ongoing treatment for a brain tumor. Juan Jesús Rodríguez will sing di Luna in these performances, making his Met debut.” So says the Met press office.
On this day in 1958 A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green opened at the John Golden Theater, to run 38 performances.
Now, understand, this is the snippiest of snippets, but it is indeed the first hint of Anna Netrebko‘s Turandot!
“Only four could have betrayed her: one is dead, one loves her, one wants to own her. And one, she hopes, never thinks of her at all.”