Questo e Quello
My mother leaned in and quietly whispered,”Is that Leontyne Price?” to which I replied,”Shhhh!”
In recent years, Opera Paralléle has established a reputation for creative programming of contemporary opera in San Francisco. Persuaded both by the promise of an unusual Bernstein-Heggie double bill, and the unusual venue of SF Jazz’s Miner Auditorium, I had the pleasure of attending an excellent production this past week.
Happy 85th birthday soprano Elly Ameling.
La bohéme returned to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera once again last night (does it ever leave?)
There are two delights here: a delectable score too rarely heard and an introduction at close quarters to half a dozen young singers ready for takeoff, indeed already flying.
An early start for today’s broadcast, cher public: get enlightened starting at 11:30 AM.
On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan.
On this day in 1966, the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.
Accelerating his arrival as Music Director by two seasons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will take up the post in time for the start of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2018–19 season, it was announced today.
Either venomous fishwife Norman Lebrecht has deliberately misquoted and misinterpreted what Jonas Kaufmann said in a recent interview, or else Jonas Kaufmann needs to go fuck himself.
Happy 71st birthday composer John Adams.
The problem with trying to revive Semiramide today is competing with the memory of the spectacular casting lavished upon the work during the golden age of the Volpe era.
“Trove Valentine’s Day” further stokes Semiramis-fever with another of the celebrated works about the infamous queen: La Semiramide riconosciuta, a superb 1729 opera by Nicola Porpora.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Ash Wednesday! And happy 59th birthday soprano Renée Fleming!
Happy 49th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
As if the corner of Broadway and 53rd weren’t already busy enough, Evan Ingersoll couldn’t believe the line leading into the Mariachi Playhouse where BASTA tryouts were held.
One can only assume that Sally Struthers wanted too much money.
Yet another whack at Trovatore tonight starting at 7:25, cher public!
Happy 95th birthday director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.
On this day in 1966 soprano Pilar Lorengar made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Elvira.
Mean, moody, magnificent Matt Baume (left) hosts a live version of his celebrated podcast The Sewers of Paris this afternoon beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern time.
So as not to play favorites at her Los Angeles recital last week, Renée Fleming performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion while wearing Walt Disney Concert Hall.
This week’s dose of love potion will be taken a little early, cher public.
Happy 91st birthday soprano Leontyne Price.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
