Questo e Quello
Has anyone ever seen a truly great production of La forza del destino?
>On this day in 1903, Enrico Caruso made his United States debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in Rigoletto.
There might be nothing in the world as joyous as a Rossini overture.
On this day in 1898, Mascagni’s Iris premiered in Rome.
On this day in 1620 the Plymouth Colony settlers signed the Mayflower Compact.
Though the soi-disant “NYCO Renaissance” has not yet actually set dates for, you know, performances, you will be happy to note that on November 30 you’ll have the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for the troupe—at a $250 top.
La Cieca hears that Peter Gelb and representatives of the Met’s various unions (not pictured) have begun preliminary plans for adding regular Sunday performances to the company’s schedule.
On this day in 1901 Jules Massenet’s “conte lyrique” Grisélidis premiered at the Opéra-Comique.
This new production of Le nozze di Figaro by Stefan Herheim looks seriously fabulous.
Roberto De Biasio and Gwyn Hughes Jones will sing Pinkerton in the initial performances of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Met this spring.
For the second time in two years, the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents a rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s best countertenors in concert.
As a whole, the evening seemed forced and a bit dispiriting.
Mounting Verdi’s French grand operas in their original language is no longer as unusual as it once was.
Born on this day in 1889 actor Clifton Webb.
“From drab to fab!”
Our Own JJ confesses he just doted on Heartbreak Express, but “You Us We All was not my cup of twee.”
Bare Opera, the feisty little company that gave Debussy’s exquisite L’Enfant Prodigue in Chelsea last spring, is now operating in chic, rundown Bushwick where so many original enterprises sprout.
On this day in 1959 Rocky and His Friends debuted on ABC.
Hopefully the assignment of Herman Melville’s endless whaling opus Moby-Dick as compulsory reading for High School students is a thing of the past.
Your task this week: Name That Orpheus!
On this day in 1866 the opera Mignon premiered at the Théâtre Impérial de l’Opéra-Comique, Paris.
Saturday’s Washington National Opera premiere of a new version of Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton’s Appomattox had everything going for it but the opera.
Two years before she brought the role to Wiener Staatsoper in a production somewhat dominated by Jonas Kaufmann, soprano Nina Stemme sang her first-ever Minnie in La fanciulla del West at Stockholm’s Royal Opera.
On this day in 1908 Arturo Toscanini made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting a new production of Aïda, with Emmy Destinn, also making her debut, in the title role.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
