Questo e Quello
Happy 65th birthday baritone Alessandro Corbelli.
In this Sunday’s New York Times, Our Own JJ (not pictured except in spirit) examines why Bellini’s Norma should be considered “the Everest of Opera.”
Tchaikovsky’s Orleánskaia Djeva (The Maid of Orleans) kicked off Odyssey’s Opera’s fifth season
Happy 83rd birthday actress Sophia Loren.
Born on this day in 1918 mezzo-soprano Blanche Thebom (some sources say 1915.)
Happy 46th birthday soprano Anna Netrebko.
Born on this day in 1925 actress singer and Leonie Rysanek doppelgänger Dorothy Loudon.
An exciting performance and a legendary feud.
On this day 51 years ago the new Metropolitan Opera House opened in Lincoln Center.
This year’s Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s annual gala concert at Carnegie Hall is marginally less starry than last year’s.
The second half of Warner Classics’ Maria Callas Live Remastered set represents the years 1954 to 1964 in the career of La Divina.
Happy 72nd birthday soprano Jessye Norman.
“Aleksandrs Antonenko will sing Calàf in Puccini’s Turandot from October 12 to November 16 replacing Marcelo Álvarez, who is ill.”
“Trove Thursday” presents a performance from 40 years ago: an inspired Renata Scotto as Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur.
On this day 1985 The Golden Girls debuted on NBC.
Gregory Spears‘ Paul’s Case is on the way to being commercially recorded.
All the daring and imagination of La Divina’s live work, particularly in the early years, is revealed in Warner Classics’ Maria Callas: The Live Recordings.
Born on this day in 1874 composer Arnold Schoenberg.
So La Cieca has been hearing complaints lately that she is not linking to videos of Russian guys singing excerpts from La traviata while eating Tater Tots.
Dame Rosalind Plowright complains that unlike most other voiceless 68 year old singers, she has trouble finding work.
When you attend a performance of Georges Bizet’s Carmen you can never be quite certain which one you’re in for.
Born on this day in 1938 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos.
You’ve got your “Night in the Museum,”and your “It’s All In Her Head” and your “Pantomimes of Childhood Trauma” and that’s all before halftime.
Aida certainly has its longueurs.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
