Questo e Quello
On this day in 1876 the Bayreuth Festspielhaus opens with the first complete performance of the Ring.
Happy 89th birthday conductor Raymond Leppard.
“Trove Thursday” offers a Der Fliegende Holländer from New York City Opera featuring the underrated American soprano Johanna Meier.
The soprano, famed for her status youngest performer to make a debut at the Met as well as her flamboyant style and personality, died last Thursday after suffering a stroke.
An aging eccentric—who has for decades occupied a dubious place on the fringes of New York’s musical life—today saw a lifelong dream fulfilled.
La Cieca hears that Stefan Herheim’s Met Meistersinger (scheduled for 2019-2020) may not be his New York debut after all.
Now this is a piece of (imaginary) casting so obvious you have to wonder if it hasn’t already happened and we missed it.
On this day in 1930 Betty Boop made her film debut in Dizzy Dishes, created by Max Fleischer.
The current iteration of that altogether necessary resource the Met Future Wiki currently lists a repertoire of 32(!) programs intended for the Met’s 2017-2018 season, which clearly is absurd.
The Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s annual gala promises (note, promises) a particularly glittery roster this year.
It will be no surprise that your alte Jungfer (pictured) is particularly fond of the music of Richard Strauss.
On this day in 1876 Thomas Edison (not pictured) patented the mimeograph.
Born on this day in 1876 dancer and spy Margaretha Geertruida “Margreet” Zelle MacLeod aka Mata Hari (not pictured).
Born on this day in 1911 actress and producer Lucille Ball.
On this day in 1924 the New York Daily News debuted the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray.
Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with an unexpected heroine: the electrifying Julia Varady, seduced and abandoned by the suavely ardent Giacomo Aragall.
Legends of a certain age Jessye Norman and Madame (pictured, left to right) announce a new joint venture.
Happy 55th birthday President Barack Obama.
On this day in 1943 Martin Vale‘s melodrama The Two Mrs. Carrolls opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre.
Opera at Caramoor rallied Sunday afternoon with an admirable if erratic performance of Fidelio which was especially memorable for South African soprano Elza van den Heever’s thrilling first-ever Leonore.
Happy 79th birthday soprano Gundula Janowitz.
“What fools these mortals be!”
>Born on this day in 1819 writer Herman Melville.
Born on this day in 1887 composer Sigmund Romberg.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
