Questo e Quello
World-famous soprano Montserrat Caballé will not have to go to jail.
“That pathetic old woman is also a great and noble queen.”
On this day in 1912, the Deutsche Opernhaus (now Deutsche Oper Berlin) opens with a production of Beethoven’s Fidelio.
In her place, soprano Lise Lindstrom sang the role.
On this day in 1913 Mohandas K Gandhi was arrested for leading an Indian miners march in South Africa.
During the Munich Opera Festival performances of Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut (28th and 31st of July 2015) Kristine Opolais will replace Anna Netrebko in the title role.
This was the kind of night that proves the haters right: sometimes opera is boring.
No tracks available yet, but the Angela Gheorghiu Christmas album looks very, well, seasonal.
“We hear that Anna’s fiancé, the Azeri tenor Yusif Eyvazov, has stayed behind to understudy Joan Kaufmann in the role of Des Grieux.”
On this day in 1872, suffragist Susan B. Anthony voted in defiance of the law, and was later fined $100.
“Macy’s announced that the giant character balloons and floats will be joined by the opera star Renée Fleming…”
On this day in 1890 Alexander Borodin‘s opera Prince Igor premiered in St. Petersburg.
“Sonya Yoncheva will sing her first-ever staged performances of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Met on November 14, 20, 24, 28, December 1 and 5, replacing Kristine Opolais.
For Verdi-sated New Yorkers, a different take on Macbeth, as performed at Covent Garden in 2011.
On this day in 1333, the River Arno flooded.
On this day in 1968, the musical Her First Roman closed at Lunt Fontanne Theater, New York City, after 17 performances.
La Cieca hopes that you, the cher public, will generously share your off-topic and general interest discussion with tout le monde.
Judy Garland singing “Swanee River” and Ian Bostridge singing “Curlew River.”
Janácek mavens, Bayerische Staatsoper devotees and Pavel Cernoch groupies alike will be glued to their monitors this afternoon when Vec Makropulos is webcast live from Munich starting at 1:00 PM.
“With radiant looks, we shall depart this world,” sing Konstanze and Belmonte near the end of Mozart’s exotic yet charming opera Singspiel Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
On this day in 1894, Thomas Edison filmed American sharpshooter Annie Oakley, leading to her hiring by Buffalo Bill for his Wild West Show.
On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
At the first intermission at last night’s Met revival of Aida, I turned to my companion and said, “So… what about the Aida? I thought she was supposed to be good.”
Herbert von Karajan once said listening to some of his old recordings made him envy painters who could simply burn the pictures they disliked.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
