Questo e Quello
A woman reads from the Bible. There is a dance scene in a tavern. The discovery of blood gives away the protagonist.
Our Own JJ’s muse Dorothy Bishop returns to New York’s plush Metropolitan Room tomorrow night with another edition of her “Dozen Divas” revue.
On this day in 1916 Granados’ Goyescas premieres at the Met
At Opera Philadelphia, baritone Jarrett Ott will replace Nathan Gunn as protagonist W.P. Inman for all five performances of Cold Mountain, February 5-14 at the Academy of Music.
Born on this day in 1756 composer and musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose opera Così fan tutte premiered in Vienna on this date in 1790.
Soprano Denise Duval, muse to Francis Poulenc, died yesterday in Switzerland. She was 94.
From the Met: “Jonas Kaufmann has canceled his performances in this season’s new production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut due to illness.”
On this day in 1957 Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites premiered at La Scala.
While legendary NYCO soprano Lauren Flanigan has, alas, not been singing very frequently lately, she recently has turned her laser-like focus to that other essential aspect of the diva’s job description, that of Raising Righteous Hell.
Anna Moffo made some of the most entrancing records ever. Their appeal is to “voice fanciers.” (I understand. We’re a despised group.) But Moffo’s best work renders us helpless.
God, I love that photo of Lisa della Casa. She can sing, too!
When Maestro Carlo Rizzi lifted his baton and began leading the Lyric Opera Orchestra in a stirring, detailed account of the overture to Nabucco, the electrified audience knew we were in for an exciting evening of music making.
On this day in 1909 the Richard Strauss/Hugo von Hofmannsthal opera Elektra premiered in Dresden.
On this day in 1914 Victor Herbert’s Madeleine premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
La Cieca is delighted (if that is the correct word) to note that, according to this photograph, the celebrated La Gran Scena Opera Co. di New York are reviving their beloved staging of Aida.
Born on this day in 1889 actor Franklin Pangborn.
A “lone voice in the wilderness” booed Barbara Frittoli’s calamitous Nedda.
Born on this day in 1897 soprano Rosa Ponselle
New York City Opera has officially launched its “renaissance” at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater last night with a production of Puccini’s Tosca that should please a lot of older, conservative audiences, if not the adventurous operagoers that City Opera courted in the past.
On his 86th birthday last month, the great Austrian conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt announced his retirement.
Happy Diamond Jubilee to tenor/baritone/conductor Plácido Domingo
The Canadian Robert Carsen would appear to love the theater to the point of fixation.
Happy 83rd birthday tenor André Jobin
On this day in 1853 Verdi’s Il Trovatore premiered in Rome.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
