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.
On this day in 1966 The Supremes released “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
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).
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.
On this day in 1983 Angela Lansbury headlined a Broadway revival of Mame that ran only 41 performances.
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.
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.
Giovanni Pacini’s 1827 opera, revived for the first time since the 19th century.
On this day in 1959 Ed Wood‘s magnum opus Plan 9 from Outer Space premiered.
Released on this day in 1943, the film musical Stormy Weather.
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.
Born on this day in 1930 actress Sally Ann Howes.
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.
Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber.
Born on this day in 1911 “triple threat” performer Ginger Rogers.
Broadcast live from Munich with a number of members of the cast who will appear in the impending Met presentation of this piece.
From Christian martyrs to naughty fairies, Teatro Nuovo will explore the tragic and comic sides of 19th century Italian Opera.
Happy 44th birthday to Broadway’s Laura Benanti.
On this day in 1989, soprano Jessye Norman sang “La Marseillaise” at the Place de la Concorde, Paris, to celebrate 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.
June is long gone. It was truly a month of excellence and exuberance here in San Francisco, coupled with cozy and inviting weather, as if to make up for the extended winter.
It’s been eight decades since darling Aix-en-Provence was under attack—its last formal invasion, at least by non-operagoers, was in 1942 during the German occupation of southern France. But on Friday, the town was besieged once again by its annual festival, with two dazzling premieres that examined the cruel and constructive dimensions of war and revolution.
Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
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