Questo e Quello
Your task: name the Ortruds, all unlucky 13 of them.
On this day in 1971 President Richard Nixon declared the “War on Drugs.”
I have an idea (soon to be angrily debunked in the comments section) that Le nozze di Figaro is rarely a source of unalloyed bliss to the chronic operagoer.
On this day in 1946 Annie Get Your Gun opened at the Imperial Theater, to run 1,147 performances.
So what’s up with Nina Stemme’s Stimme?
On this day in 1844 Goodyear patented the vulcanization of rubber.
On this day in 1800 the French Army of Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Marengo in Northern Italy.
The “manager of legendary maestros” including James Levine, died today in Manhattan. He was 87. [New York Times]
On this day in 1789 Elizabeth “Betsy” Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, served ice cream to George Washington at the White House.
For instance, the mule is more intelligent and more patient than its parents the horse and the donkey.
On this day in 1665, England installed a municipal government in New York City, the former Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam.
Poor Paisiello. Out of the nearly 100 operas written by this industrious composer just one was generally regarded as a masterpiece.
Our dear friends over at Opera Depot are slashing prices in half on all their recordings of Tristan und Isolde in honor of the music drama’s 150th anniversary.
On this day in 1509 Henry VIII of England married Catherine of Aragon.
Tonight’s program at the New York Philharmonic, Arthur Honegger’s massive oratorio dramatique Jeanne d’Arc au Bûcher, has been an occasional visitor to the orchestra’s repertoire starting with the performance conducted by Charles Munch in January of 1948.
“Disciplined and intelligent.”
On this day in 1865 Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde premiered at the Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater in Munich.
It is easy to become overly identified with opera—as a cleverer friend of mine once noted: being a sports fan is an interest, but if you like opera, everyone thinks of it as a crippling obsession.
On this day in 68 AD, Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide, imploring his secretary Epaphroditos to slit his throat to evade a Senate-imposed death by flogging.
Though La Cieca’s occasional brushes with democracy have not left her with much faith in that form of decision-making, she is going to make the leap anyway and turn some small measure of control over to you, the cher public.
Here’s to the Ladies who sing Lieder! Aren’t they a gas? This week, I am pleased to bring you unique performances of repertoire warhorses sung by three legends.
Born on this day in 1921 actress Alexis Smith.
On this day in 1909 Mary Pickford made her screen debut at the age of 16.
On this day in in 1654 Queen Christina abdicated the throne of Sweden and converted to Catholicism.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
