Questo e Quello
On this day in 1789 the French Revolution began with the fall of the Bastille.
La Cieca wants to be the first to congratulate Renée Fleming on her latest achievement: being named as the new “Gillian Girl” following the retirement of Anne Welles.
Bohuslav Martinu’s The Greek Passion has had a rough life.
By some quirk of fate, I tend to hear about the deaths of many operatic legends via radio news while out driving.
On this day in 1987 a federal judge threw out Bette Midler‘s $10 million suit against Ford Motor Co, who used a sound-alike voice for their TV commercials.
Saturday evening conductor Will Crutchfield revived Donizetti’s La Favorite—unheard in New York for fifteen years.
On this day in 1912 Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth premiered in New York City, the first foreign film to be exhibited in the United States.
The legendary Canadian heldentenor died on Friday. He was 88.
On this day 1804 a duel transpired in which Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounded former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.
John Berry, artistic director of the English National Opera, has announced he intends to step down from his role after 20 years with the Company.
On this day in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, the so-called “Monkey Trial” began with John T. Scopes, a young high school science teacher accused of teaching evolution in violation of the Butler Act.
I was once accused—by my own mother, mind you!—of having too many recordings of Verdi’s Aida. The blistering audacity of that recrimination did get me to thinking: How many recordings of Aida is too many? I mean, you’ve got the old classic you cut your teeth on. Then there’s he one where the tenor and…
Born on this day in 19o7 actress Clara Bow.
On this day in 1497 Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama departed on his first voyage.
Anna Netrebko‘s current concert tour is scheduled at some point to include her first public performance of “In questa reggia” from Turandot, but it hasn’t happened so far.
On this day in 1956 the Douglas Moore/John Latouche opera The Ballad of Baby Doe premiered.
Few things in opera are more exciting than a beloved young singer taking on a new role, especially in a new Fach.
Happy Birthday to American singer Della Reese!
On this day in 1937 Spam, the luncheon meat, was introduced into the market by the Hormel Foods Corporation.
On this day in 1865, the first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published.
This past Tuesday, Cincinnati Opera presented its first world premiere in over 50 years with Morning Star by Ricky Ian Gordon and William Hoffman.
On this day in 1954 the musical Wonderful Town closed at Winter Garden Theater after 559 performances.
On this day in 1941 Noël Coward‘s Blithe Spirit premiered in London.
“In a sudden, stunning, and largely unexplained change in procedure, Lyric Opera of Chicago has opted not to release any details of its financial performance for FY2015 that ended yesterday.”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
