Michael Kaye’s Puccini
La Cieca asked that the next installment of Chris’s Cache mark the recent passing of Michael Kaye, known to readers of this site as QuantoPainyFakor.
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Fatal beauty
Born on this day in 1938 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos.
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).
Tosca, two ways
When our friends at Naxos and C Major announced near-dueling releases of Puccini’s “shabby little shocker,” I was ready with my critic’s pen dipped in bile.
“I am like a bird!”
On this day in 1850 Swedish soprano Jenny Lind made her American debut at the Castle Garden Theatre in New York City.
Carnival knowledge
On this day in 1838 Benvenuto Cellini premiered in Paris.
“Great day in the morning!”
Born on this day in 1899 character actor Neil Hamilton.
We all go a little mad sometimes
On this day in 1960 Alfred Hitchcock‘s Psycho was released nationwide.
Ricordo d’amor
Happy 58th birthday soprano Angela Gheorghiu.
Bold
Happy 86h birthday to actress, comedian and singer Jo Anne Worley.
Se non è vero, è ben ‘Trovatore’
Chris’s Cache offers up a quintet of intriguing “forgotten” Leonora-Azucena pairings from the 1970s.
Blonde Venus
Happy 63rd birthday to soprano Karita Mattila.
Start all over again
On this day in 1936, RKO Radio Pictures released Swing Time.
They just like to kick it around
Born on this day in 1932 actress and singer Eileen Brennan.
Tannhäuser
From the China National Centre for the Performing Arts.
End of an era
The passing of Renata Scotto is perhaps the most significant and surely the saddest opera news story of 2023.
Just another run-of-the-mill Wednesday
On this day in 1954 Paramount Pictures released Rear Window.
I am a merchant mandarin
On this day in 1916 Oscar Asche‘s musical Chu Chin Chow premiered in London.
Dainty… ain’t he?
Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Shirley Booth.
“My little Welsh brain just went boom”
A Welsh opera singer has said the art must have more LGBTQ+ representation if it is to survive.
“You must train your intuition”
Born on this day in 1915 actress Ingrid Bergman.