Questo e Quello
Some thoughts about the perishability of opera productions follow.
On this day in 1912, Al Jolson‘s recording of “Ragging the Baby to Sleep” was released.
Our own publisher and New York Observer scribe Julie Jordan James Jorden plays pundit again for WQXR’s “Conducting Business.”
On this day in 1959 A Party with Comden and Green opened at the John Golden Theater.
Born on this day in 1684 Catherine I of Russia.
Although she began her career nearly 25 years ago recording and performing lots of baroque music, I was surprised to see German soprano Dorothea Röschmann promoted as the star attraction of an all-Purcell concert Sunday at Carnegie Hall.
On this day in 1960 Bye Bye Birdie opened at the Martin Beck Theater, to run 607 performances.
In his first appearance on the stage of Paris’ Palais Garnier, Roberto Alagna, as the newly knighted Rodrigue, was confronted with a profound dilemma.
No surprises this week: back to normal with what is perhaps the world’s most favorite opera: Puccini’s La bohème.
On this day in 1957 the musical Shinbone Alley opened at Broadway Theater for a run of 49 performances.
Who needs sets and costumes anyway?
Feel free to waltz or to discuss off-topic or general interest subjects, cher public.
So, in the Michigan Opera Theatre production of The Merry Widow, is Deborah Voigt channeling Joan Sutherland…
On this day in 1967 the musical Ilya Darling opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater.
The classic Tintin tale Les Bijoux de la Castafiore has been adapted into an opera for presentation in September 2015 at at Hulpe Castle in Belgium.
On this day in 1849 the safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt, who sold the right to his invention for $400.
On this day in 1928, the play Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theater in New York City.
Our Own JJ crunches the numbers at the Met and LoftOpera in the New York Observer.
On this day in 1876 Amilcare Ponchielli‘s opera La Gioconda [from which our doyenne derived her nom de plume] premiered in Milan.
Met press office: Salvatore Cordella will sing Edgardo in this evening’s performance of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, replacing Joseph Calleja, who is ill.
Jonas Kaufmann in a wifebeater is but one of the attractions of the Salzburg Festival production of Cavalleria rusticana, a telecast of which you can peruse after the jump.
On this day in 397 the wearing of Barbarian clothing in the City of Rome was banned by the Emperor Honorius.
Two questions answered in a single YouTube video.
I think the sturdier of you will enjoy Nina Stemme’s Elektra from Saturday night at Wiener Staatsoper.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
