Wheeling: Summer of 1914
Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber.
Questo e Quello
It’s the Minnesinger not the song
Tannhäuser pales beside the other great Wagnerian operas in the degree to which it has innovated the Regisseur’s vocabulary for set design and dramaturgy.
There is no spoon
Can a work with indisputably great music fail to add up to a successful opera? I puzzled over that Sunday during Teatro Nuovo’s essential concert staging of Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra at SUNY Purchase.
“Rhythm is born in all of us”
Born on this day in 1911 actress, dancer and singer Ginger Rogers.
Moody “Blue”
The Glimmerglass Festival premiered a searing examination of race, identity, and the fraught relationship between communities of color and law enforcement. Blue, with a score by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Tazewell Thompson.
When off-off was on to something
Promenade is a powder keg but the powder may not be as explosive as it hints.
Flower girl
Happy 40th birthday to Broadway’s Laura Benanti.
Primavera
Born on this day in 1924 tenor Carlo Bergonzi.
Venusberg in furs
Le Gateau Chocolat will make his Bayreuth Festival debut in a new production of Tannhäuser on July 25.
Ah tweet mystery of life
“…newfound celebrity on Twitter, where she is beloved by some of opera’s most ardent fans.”
Overnight sensation
Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
Town of nets
The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, broadcast live from Aix-en-Provence, begins at 2:00 PM.
21st century blues
Will idea-free “think” pieces by millennials (among others) kill opera?
To live and die in L.A.
Trove Thursday presents a double dose of the Verdi Messa da Requiem performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Clean cut
Born on this day in 1931 actor and crooner Tab Hunter.
Bold faced names
It’s good to see our old friends at Mad Libs are commissioning contemporary classical music.
Golden boy
Happy 50th birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
Broadcast: Tosca
The “duelling divas” Tosca starring Angel Blue and Catherine Malfitano, a live webcast from Aix-en-Provence, is starting now!
Party animal
Born on this day in 1929 baritone Eberhard Waechter.
Little Miss Divina
Can you imagine the filmmakers’ embarrassment when they suddenly realized they’d made a movie about Maria Callas by mistake?
Intent and purpose
>Born on this day in 1912 soprano Christel Goltz.
“Real talent is a mystery”
Born on this day in 1899 film director and producer George Cukor.
Broadcast: Salome
Marlis Petersen is the obsessed princess.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
