Star vehicles
This Carmen, in other words, was somewhat less radical than its initial image suggested.
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A keen sense of audience effect
On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 25th anniversary of soprano Lily Pons with a special Gala performance (Act 2 Rigoletto, Lucia Mad Scene and a concert).
Egyptologie
On this day in 2015 soprano Marjorie Owens made her Metropolitan Opera debut (and only Met performance thus far) as Verdi‘s Aida.
Don José…le connaissez-vous ?
“Rafael Davila will sing the role of Don José in Bizet’s Carmen in tonight’s performance, replacing Piotr Beczala, who has withdrawn due to illness.”
Bat, two ways
Uncork your bubbly for two consecutive Teutonic Fledermauses live from Vienna and Munich to celebrate the new year
When you’re gifted, then you’re gifted
Born on this day in 1905 composer Jule Styne
Le Nozze di Figaro
A historic performance from April 7, 1956 in celebration of the centenaries of Cesare Siepi and Victoria de los Angeles featuring Nadine Conner, Mildred Miller, and conductor Max Rudolf
Shrew on the other foot
On this day in 1948 Cole Porter‘s Kiss Me Kate opened on Broadway
Nabucco
Daniele Callegari yet again conducts Liudmyla Monastyrska, Maria Barakova, SeokJong Baek, George Gagnidze, Dmitry Belosselskiy in a broadcast from New York.
For so our master said
Ah, that Bernstein dichotomy.
Cello sweets
Born on this day in 1876 cellist and conductor Pablo Casals
Mama is gonna see to it
Florian Leopold Gassmann’s delicious romp L’Opera Seria seems the perfect New Year’s Eve choice at Chris’s Cache
Duck duck goosegirl
On this day in 1910 Engelbert Humperdinck‘s ‘other’ opera Königskinder premiered at the Met
Dress for the image
Born on this day in 1901 actress Marlene Dietrich
I went by the Druid’s tone
On this day in 1831 Bellini‘s Norma premiered at La Scala
Go out and see
On this night in 1951 Giancarlo Menotti‘s Amahl and the Night Visitors premiered on television
Tannhäuser
Donald Runnicles conducts Wagner’s Tannhäuser live from New York with Elza van den Heever, Ekaterina Gubanova, Andreas Schager, Christian Gerhaher, and Georg Zeppenfeld
Ear candy
On this day in 1893 Engelbert Humperdinck‘s Hansel und Gretel premiered in Weimar
The music seemed to come from afar
New York shall never be in need of another Messiah to assist to during the holiday season, but a new tradition is beginning to crystallize at the cavernous St. John the Divine to rival it.
Lucca-like
Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini
The Magic Flute
Gareth Morrell conducts Liv Redpath, Kathryn Lewek, Joshua Blue, Alexander Birch Elliott, and James Creswell in a holiday presentation from New York
Field and fountain, moor and Montemezzi
Today’s Three Kings aren’t the ones who arrive in Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera usually performed this time of year