Questo e Quello
Mortality is ugly—it smells, it makes uncomfortable noises, it takes its time; and then there is the overwhelming sense of dread and helplessness.
Born on this day in 1887 singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality Sophie Tucker.
Les Pêcheurs de Perles with an impressive Francophone cast headed by the superb Nadir of Alain Vanzo, one of my favorite tenors.
Norman Lebrecht is a bloody-minded crank, but, honestly, some of the commenters on his site make him seem the reincarnation of Mother Teresa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn6-6jNCaRc
Born on this day in 1899 actress, producer, director, translator, writer and teacher Eva Le Gallienne.
Beaumarchais clearly delighted in this unobtrusive realm.
From Operabase.
Prototype: Opera/Theatre/Now presented new works in which women were variously gang-raped, eviscerated and executed by firing squad.
Happy 66th birthday tenor Rockwell Blake.
It’s easy to see why Leonard Bernstein’s Candide was a flop when it premiered on Broadway.
The DVD of Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen‘s 2013 opera The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Jonas Kaufmann announced that he feels ready to return to the stage after calling in sick since last autumn
Happy 60th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier.
anatomy theater, receiving its New York premiere Saturday night at this year’s Prototype Festival, is a conceptual exercise in which nothing, absolutely nothing is left to the imagination.
Happy 80th birthday songstress and diva Dame Shirley Bassey.
Breaking the Waves is not only a “real opera,” it is an immensely powerful work of music drama.
Which internationally famous but vocally shaky diva may soon find her career waning if her upcoming appearance in one of her signature roles gets nixed?
Listen and discuss, cher public, as the Met broadcasts Nabucco.
On this day in 1893 Hermann Sudermann‘s Heimat premiered in Berlin.
One thing that is killing opera is the practice of critics’ comparing the singers they heard last night to dead or retired artists.
Born on this day in 1928 actress and model Capucine.
2017 happily brings the return of Trove Thursday with a rare and enthralling live performance of Gluck’s Alceste featuring Jessye Norman.
Born on this day in 1863 theatre and opera producer Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
