Il Turco in Italia
Alex Esposito and Lisette Oropesa star at the Teatro Real de Madrid.
Recent Stories
Theme park
On this day in 1967 the Metropolitan Opera presented its first “Met in the Parks” performance in Crocheron Park, Bayside, Queens. La bohème featured Anna Moffo, Sandor Konya, Laurel Hurley and Frank Guarrera.
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).
Carmen
For your Friday evening chatting pleasure, a video from the Opéra Comique, Paris.
Born in ultry-sultry Martinique
Born on this day in 1763 Joséphine de Beauharnais.
El último sueño de Frida y Diego
“Gabriela Lena Frank‘s score for Frida y Diego was nothing short of extraordinary, at times recalling Béla Bartók (in her treatment for climaxes) or Giacomo Puccini (in her handling of choruses), but the musical idioms were certainly her own. I particularly mesmerized by many instrumental solos peppered throughout the score (most particularly the bassoon and violin solos), and Frank used such device to define the characters, almost in a way of leitmotif.”
“Blame it on the summer knight”
On June 20, a rather breezy, pleasant cool summer evening, the soprano Gabriella Reyes, tenor René Barbera and baritone Will Liverman took over the Summerstage space with a wide-ranging, ambitious recital program with Dimitri Dover tickling the ivories.
Is something funny?
On this day in 2006 The Devil Wears Prada premiered in Los Angeles.
Wrong side of the tracks
Renowned musical artist Jonas Kaufmann has returned to his first true love, recording dated kitsch.
A divided duty
Today’s Chris’s Cache features live recordings of Otello most noteworthy for their Desdemonas: (in chronological order) Teresa Stratas, Julia Varady, Eva Marton and Karita Mattila.
Return of the Merolini
On June 16, San Francisco Opera concluded their excellent Centennial Season with a heartfelt 100th Anniversary Concert, featuring a starry cast, three conductors (including current and former Music Directors) and the SF Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
If you existed, I’d divorce you
On this day in 1966 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, film directorial debut of Mike Nichols, is released.
Die Frau ohne Schatten
Tonight’s chat is late (10:00 PM EDT / 7:00 PM PDT) and based on a pay-per-view event, but….
Returning to the Living World
“I joyfully await the exit—and I hope never to return” were the last words written by the visionary Mexican painter, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (famously known simply as Frida Kahlo), according to her 2002 biography by Hayden Herrera.
“It’s a flaw in the iris”
On this day in 1974 the ultimate film noir, Chinatown, was released.
Babs and the night and the music
On this day in 1967 Barbra Streisand played her “Happening in Central Park” for an audience of 135,000.
Freedom fighter
On this day in 1989 “actress and socialite” Zsa Zsa Gabor was arrested for slapping a Beverly Hills motorcycle patrolman.
Free Byrd
Death of Classical, under the direction of founder Andrew Ousley, is interested in enlivening the classical music genre by organizing events in Green-Wood Cemetery, usually with a focus on food and drink.
“I don’t know who the hell Paul Lynde is”
Born on this day in 1913 comedian and actor Paul Lynde.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
On this day in 1963 the fabulously expensive but less than satisfying film epic Cleopatra premiered in New York City.
Diamonds are forever
According to the MGM press office, today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Judy Garland.
La bohème
The final Free Live Audio Stream of the Met’s 2022-2023 season.
“It was the drag queens who taught me glamour”
On this day in 1995 Wigstock The Movie premiered in the United States.