Questo e Quello
Well, that didn’t last long.
The characters get right down to work immediately with their foul deeds.
Born on this day in 1898 composer George Gershwin.
The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is a pearl itself and this presentation proffers some of the best that company has to offer.
Happy 47th birthday actress Catherine Zeta Jones.
Happy birthday drag virtuosa Vicky Boofont.
Tristan has been the season-launching opera three times before now, but good luck finding someone to provide a firsthand account of the last time.
On this day in 1982 the Larry Grossman / Betty Comden / Adolph Green musical A Doll’s Life opened on Broadway, to close after five performances.
Now we have considered the three “winners” in the Tristan competition, let’s turn to the also-rans, or, to be more optimistic, the runners up.
Happy birthday librarian, crossword crafter and opera maven Brad Wilber.
“Elektra. Staatsoper in Schiller Theater. 23 October 2016. . . . DIE VERTRAUTE/DIE AUFSEHERIN Cheryl Studer“
Patrice Chéreau, the humanist in provocateur’s clothing, returned to Wagner in 2007 at La Scala with Daniel Barenboim and Waltraud Meier.
Happy birthday to the 74 years young soprano Jill Gomez.
The first “La Casa della Cieca” chat of the 2016-2017 season features Diana Damrau.
“Never in my life having enjoyed the true happiness of love I shall erect a memorial to this loveliest of all dreams…”
Happy 82nd birthday actress Sophia Loren.
Your alte Jungfer’s requisite Kuschelkatze (pictured) arrived on my doorstep in Mariahilf with the name of Tristan.
On this day in 1970 The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered on CBS.
Happy 45th birthday soprano Anna Netrebko.
Ambivalent is how I feel about Cosí fan tutte.
Born on this day in 1925 actress and chanteuse Dorothy Loudon.
“Just as every downtown shopping street in every major American city now features the same familiar retailers’ names, New York City Opera has no particular artistic identity different from, say, Opera Carolina.”
Happy 40h birthday mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca.
“Paul Appleby will sing the role of Don Ottavio in this season’s September and October performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, replacing Rolando Villazón, who has withdrawn due to illness.”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Get our free newsletter
Opera's top reads delivered to your email weekly…ish.
Join over 100k readers.
The best opera magazine on the web.
Reviews, breaking news, critical essays, and brainrot commentary on opera from those demented enough to love it.
Essentials
Copyright © 2026 Parterre Box.
All rights reserved.
Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.