Puzza la tela dipinta
This afternoon the Royal Opera House offers a first glimpse of Richard Jones‘ new production of La bohème, the first at that theater since about 1735 or so.
Questo e Quello
Abendstern
“Trove Thursday” celebrates the thrilling Finnish soprano Karita Matilla in the ultimate diva role.
Knight, devoted
Born on this day in 1912 tenor/baritone Ramón Vinay.
Possente amor li chiama
Congratulations to Michael Fabiano and Bryan L. McCalister, who have just announced their engagement.
“Actors should be overheard, not listened to”
Born on this day in 1898 actress Shirley Booth.
Erschlage!
Meet Andreas Rosar, assistant director and hero/heroine of the 2017 Bayreuth Festival.
Simultaneous transformation
For those who thought opera to be a rare enough commodity that there shouldn’t be duels, Saturday night in the Berkshires offered the odd rebuttal.
Diamanda is forever
Happy 62nd birthday composer and vocalist Diamanda Galas.
The once and future queen
In addition to her first Met Aida performances next season, forthcoming projects for the one and only Anna Netrebko just keep gushing out.
“I find that birds of a feather flock together”
Born on this day in 1921 actress Nancy Kulp.
“Ask any girl what she’d rather be than beautiful, and she’ll say more beautiful”
Born on this day in 1916 actress and comedienne (and owner of a killer pair of gams!) Martha Raye.
Broadcast: The Ghosts of Versailles
This afternoon at 1:00 PM, The Ghosts of Versailles from Los Angeles Opera: all this and Patti LuPone too!
“Fear, after all, is our real enemy”
Born on this day in 1904 novelist Christopher Isherwood.
Telecast: La Traviata
Michael Fabiano and Sonya Yoncheva star in Great Performances at the Met’s telecast of La Traviata tonight at 9:00 PM.
“I was all personality and no talent”
Born on this day in 1910 actress and dancer Ruby Keeler.
Nile, see you in my dreams
A spokesman for Anna Netrebko informs parterre box that the diva is scheduled to sing Aïda at the Met during the 2018-2019 season.
They’ll be gaga at the rogo!
La Cieca hears that the controversial but parterre-acclaimed Norma of Cecilia Bartoli will tour to the Brooklyn Academy of Music in (our informant says) “an upcoming season.”
For me and my Gaul
I first went bonkers for Bellini’s masterpiece during the previous century when the Met remounted it for Joan Sutherland.
“I don’t know many people”
Born on this day in 1913 actress Dorothy Comingore.
Cub reporter
Happy 37th birthday author, commentator, podcaster and storyteller Matt Baume.
And the villain still pursued her
Bard College presented a semi-staged concert of Halka on Saturday evening as part of its impressively wide-ranging two-week “Chopin and his World” festival.
There is no cure for curiosity
Born on this day in 1893 author and critic Dorothy Parker.
“When you’re climbing Mount Everest, nothing is easy”
Born on this day in 1918 (but you didn’t hear that from me) author Jacqueline Susann.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).