Women on the Virgil of a nervous breakdown
Anticipating John Eliot Gardiner’s epic tour next month, Chris’s Cache savors several versions of Berlioz’s Les Troyens.
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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).
An honest but poor chorus girl
On this day in 1920 the musical comedy Poor Little Ritz Girl opened on Broadway with a score shared between Sigmund Romberg and Richard Rodgers.
Rabbit test
On this day in 1940 Bugs Bunny made his film debut in A Wild Hare.
Lamb chops
Born on this day in 1895 actress and comedienne Gracie Allen.
The king of queens
In the case of this summer’s resuscitation project at the Bard Summerscape Festival, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Henri VIII , it was quite evident that this is a dramatically sound work with consistently well-crafted, theatrically vital and attractive music that provides at least three roles for gifted singing actors.
It’s a game of give and take
On this day in 1966 The Supremes released “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
It takes a fairy to make something pretty
Teatro Nuovo took a spirited journey of rediscovery into the valley of forgotten operas and resurrected Federico and Luigi Ricci’s 1850 opera buffa Crispino e la Comare last Thursday at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Don’t depend on a holiday date
On this day in 1983 Angela Lansbury headlined a Broadway revival of Mame that ran only 41 performances.
It’s hard to be a saint in the city
It was thrilling to see and hear Will Crutchfield’s insights come to life onstage in performance when Teatro Nuovo performed Poliuto at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center Wednesday July 19.
Golden goddess
On this day in 1961 American singer Grace Bumbry became the first Black artist to perform at the Bayreuth Festival. She earned 42 curtain calls.
Gli arabi nelle Gallie ossia Il trionfo della fede
Giovanni Pacini’s 1827 opera, revived for the first time since the 19th century.
“The result will astound those watching”
On this day in 1959 Ed Wood‘s magnum opus Plan 9 from Outer Space premiered.
Everything I had is gone
Released on this day in 1943, the film musical Stormy Weather.
Herodias warst du, und was noch?
While reading about the challenges that have faced next week’s Bayreuth opening, I realized I’m a bad Parsifal fan: while I admire the first and third acts of Wagner’s final masterpiece, I really only love the pagan second.
Before the fiddlers have fled
Born on this day in 1930 actress Sally Ann Howes.
Prosperity gospel in tango shoes
If sex sells, then the 40 years of success for Evita show that the strawman construction and vicious takedown of an unsexy, supremely unlikable woman in just under two-and-a-half hours is just as viable a quantity.
All in flower
Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber.
“Only I know my life”
Born on this day in 1911 “triple threat” performer Ginger Rogers.