Questo e Quello
A poster outside Carnegie Hall proclaimed “Mahler Well Met” and to some degree it proved to be true.
A complete live performance of Stephen Sondheim’s wildly eccentric Anyone Can Whistle featuring the divine Audra McDonald as Fay.
Born on this day in 1921 actress Alexis Smith.
Born on this day in 1875 writer Thomas Mann.
The glorious and beloved Elisabeth Söderström tackles the fiendishly difficult role of Christine in a 1974 performance from Glyndebourne.
It is always a pleasure to hear a great orchestra take on a major score that might sound half-muffled emerging from the pit of an opera house.
Born on this day in 1912 singer and Alice Faye.
Happy 51st birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.
La Cieca (not pictured) assumes the cher public will be here for the duration of Les Troyens from Lyric Opera of Chicago starting this afternoon at 1:00 PM. (Photo: Todd Rosenberg)
Born on this day in 1904 tenor Jan Peerce.
In the same season that Manhattan School of Music revived The Gypsy Baron, Riverside Theater around the corner is the site of Amore Opera’s “Season of Gypsy Operas.”
An outstanding performance of Weber’s Euryanthe to share on “Trove Thursday.”
Born on this day in 1890 gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.
Diana Damrau has chosen for her new Erato recital disc Grand Opera 11 high-flying showpieces from ten operas by Giacomo Meyerbeer.
Born on this day in 1922 soprano Florence Quartararo.
Appearances to the contrary, Deborah Voigt has not entered into a collaboration with Matthew Barney, or not yet anyway.
Born on this day in 1908 voice actor and radio comedian Mel Blanc.
Cio-Cio and Carmen: what do you do with two tragic heroines who typify not just the sexist clichés, but also the soupy exotic fixations, of the Old-World West?
Happy Memorial Day US Parterrians!
Born on this day in 1943 soprano Elena Souliotis.
For your listening and discussing pleasure this afternoon, cher public, we offer Lucia di Lammermoor from Lyric Opera of Chicago.
As we enter the third week of the post-Fleming era, La Cieca would like to keep memory’s torch alive for America’s Most Beloved Quasi-Retired Diva.
Born on this day in 1911 actor Vincent Price.
Two aspects of Cecilia Bartoli in the title role of Ariodante, to be performed next week at the Salzburger Festspiele Pfingsten.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
