New waves
Missy Mazzoli, a 36-year-old composer from Brooklyn, has created the most startling and moving new American opera in memory.
Questo e Quello
Così fan typos
“In this offbeat production, Guglielmo and Ferrando disguise themselves as Van Johnson and Van Heflin, respectively.”
Chat: Tristan und Isolde
As afternoon fades into evening, confide in each other, cher public, in La Casa della Cieca.
Comeback thane
The characters get right down to work immediately with their foul deeds.
Life is a lot like jazz
Born on this day in 1898 composer George Gershwin.
The upper depths
The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is a pearl itself and this presentation proffers some of the best that company has to offer.
To tempt, and to be tempted, are things very nearly allied
Happy 47th birthday actress Catherine Zeta Jones.
Forever female
Happy birthday drag virtuosa Vicky Boofont.
Geh such dir die Stars vom vergangenen Jahr!
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.
Learn to be lonely
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.
“Something great in itself”
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.
Days of futures past
Happy birthday librarian, crossword crafter and opera maven Brad Wilber.
Heck, I’d even play the maid to be in a Schauspiel
“Elektra. Staatsoper in Schiller Theater. 23 October 2016. . . . DIE VERTRAUTE/DIE AUFSEHERIN Cheryl Studer“
Wunderbare Träume
Patrice Chéreau, the humanist in provocateur’s clothing, returned to Wagner in 2007 at La Scala with Daniel Barenboim and Waltraud Meier.
“What happened then, your grace?”
Happy birthday to the 74 years young soprano Jill Gomez.
Der Sommer schauert still seinem Ende entgegen
The first “La Casa della Cieca” chat of the 2016-2017 season features Diana Damrau.
I saw three ships
“Never in my life having enjoyed the true happiness of love I shall erect a memorial to this loveliest of all dreams…”
Oh, mia vergogna estrema!
Happy 82nd birthday actress Sophia Loren.
One night of love
Your alte Jungfer’s requisite Kuschelkatze (pictured) arrived on my doorstep in Mariahilf with the name of Tristan.
All around
On this day in 1970 The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered on CBS.
“You will not see me dressed in plain, modest outfits”
Happy 45th birthday soprano Anna Netrebko.
Guilt and pleasure
Ambivalent is how I feel about Cosí fan tutte.
She could drive a person crazy
Born on this day in 1925 actress and chanteuse Dorothy Loudon.
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).