Questo e Quello
While some once-popular Met operas have fallen into neglect in the past quarter century, Rusalka has returned regularly since its 1993 premiere.
Born on this day in 1921 tenor and film star Mario Lanza.
This week, a Janácek trilogy: Sárka, Osud and Zápisník zmizelého.
Happy 89th birthday Broadway producer Hal Prince.
On this day in 1595 Romeo and Juliet is thought to have been first performed.
“Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand / A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame / Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name / Mother of Exiles…”
The ubiquitous Pretty Yende headlines this afternoon’s broadcast of Il barbiere di Siviglia from the Met. Discuss!
Premiere on this day in 1830: the opera Fra Diavolo.
Mary Zimmerman explains (more or less) “what’s wrong with opera audiences?”
The beautiful singing here is less in the sound than in the way the voice moves.
Now we find Mariella Devia, a diva held in near mythic regard due to her vocal longevity, with competing videos of two of her performances that were released, literally, on the same day.
La Scala’s 2017-2018 season will open with a new production of Andrea Chenier starring Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov.
Okay, it’s only a couple of preview clips, but La Cieca has to say she’s bewildered by what seems to be some cross-repertoire meta-direction at the Met, especially as concerns Kristine Opolais (not pictured).
Born on this day in 1756 composer and musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Kaufmann conveys Lohengrin’s immense loneliness in a profoundly moving way. I am happy to report that vocally he sounds completely recovered.
They’ll say, “Norman’s back at last!”
For your listening and discussing enjoyment, cher public, Rigoletto from the Met tonight at 7:25 pm.
Two “major” US companies will present in 2017-2018 what La Cieca cannot help but regard as the worst possible combination of director and material.
To mark Mozart’s 260th birthday tomorrow, “Trove Thursday” offers his infrequently performed bucolic opera Il Re Pastore with the sublime Arleen Augér as its heroine and Edith Mathis as her shepherd-lover.
On this day in 1784 Benjamin Franklin expressed unhappiness over the eagle as America’s symbol.
Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative, now in its 5th year, keeps the opera flame alight at the Kennedy Center during the long winter stretch between mainstage WNO productions.
On this day in 1817 Rossini’s La Cenerentola premiered in Rome.
In our circle, Mexico City in the summer was the opera capital of the world from the late 1940s and early 1950.
Born on this day in 1732 playwright Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
