Questo e Quello
On this day in 1993, the first issue of parterre box was published to commemorate the 70th birthday of Maria Callas, and, yes, La Cieca knows she got the date wrong.
A faithful parterrian sends a copy of a fundraising letter from Opera Orchestra of New York.
On this day in 1933, Fred Astaire‘s first film, Dancing Lady, was released.
Almost exactly twenty years after her auspicious Metropolitan Opera debut as the Fiakermilli in Arabella and a year following what she has claims was her final appearance on the operatic stage, Natalie Dessay returned Sunday afternoon to Lincoln Center—to sing opera.
What would you do if I asked you to take a old, faded version of Puccini’s score for La Bohème and fill in the unreadable parts with a mélange of disco, kabarett, and Alban Berg?
La Cieca is sure that the cher public (pictured), just like all other red-blooded Americans or foreign nationals, will spend the day today doing their “Cyber Monday” shopping.
Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin notes: while this performance of Janácek’s Jenufafeatures the same three principal singers from the legendary Carnegie Hall concert of 1988, the fact that it is a staged performance raises the temperature even higher.
On this day in 1956, the musical Candide opened at the Martin Beck Theater for 73 performances.
The cher public are invited to lose control as they discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
On this date in 1825, Il barbiere di Siviglia was performed at the Park Theatre.
Why would it be crazy for you to believe that recent rumor? Is it because the gentleman in question is already enjoying a happy preview of his next romantic relationship?
On this day in 1932 Groucho Marx performed on radio for the first time.
“Labor disputes are threatening to delay the broadcast of Renee Fleming’s first-ever holiday special, ‘Christmas in New York,’ ” a source close to the production tells Confidenti@l.
On this day in 1095 Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont.
“Francesco Demuro and Michael Fabiano will sing the role of Rodolfo in the remaining 2014 performances of La Bohème.
Sooner or later, Our Own JJ gets around to discussing the Met’s Barbiere di Siviglia and Juilliard’s Turco in Italia in this week’s New York Observer.
On this day in 1476, Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) defeated Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory and became the ruler of Wallachia for the third time.
“NeNe wants to be Nay-Nay; Nay-Nay wants to be NeNe…”
“In case you missed it on Saturday, we took a look at early rehearsals for the new production of The Merry Widow, starring Renée Fleming and, in this clip, Kelli O’Hara!”
Heaven temporarily relocated to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Sunday evening for a concert performance of Rossini’s revered but rarely heard Semiramide.
On this day in 1915, Albert Einstein presented the field equations of general relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
“Italian tenor Francesco Demuro will make his Met debut in the role of Rodolfo in this evening’s performance of La Bohème, replacing Charles Castronovo who is ill.”
From our most esteemed Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin, a 2012 performance of Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder conducted by Zubin Mehta.
On this day in 1936 Noel Coward’s Tonight at 8:30 premiered in New York City.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
