Expected Wagneriennes
Christa Ludwig sings Kundry in Parsifal with Helge Brilioth, Thomas Stewart and Cesare Siepi conducted by Leopold Ludwig, followed by a legendary Birgit Nilsson–Jon Vickers Tristan und Isolde led by Erich Leinsdorf.
Recent Stories
“The boy is a genius”
Born on this day in 1899 film producer Irving Thalberg.
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).
Teen angel
On this day in 1962 Barbra Streisand appeared on The Garry Moore Show.
Gone south
On this day in 1940, Irving Berlin‘s musical Louisiana Purchase, satirizing Huey Long, opened at the Imperial Theatre, to run 444 performances.
Pretty poison
The wicked poisoner showed herself in fine form, full of purple passion and lusty music-making that would gladden the heart of any bel canto enthusiast or opera lover in general.
Something better
Broadway floperetta Arms and the Girl closed on this day in 1950, lasting only 134 performances despite a cast headed by Nanette Fabray and Pearl Bailey.
It’s good to be back home
On this day in 1964 Betty Comden & Adolph Green and Jule Styne‘s musical Fade Out-Fade In opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater to run 271 performances.
Die Zauberflöte
“Following her sublime Met debut two weeks ago leading Don Giovanni, Nathalie Stutzmann once again led a fleet and transparent reading full of ravishing detail.”
Cloak and dagger
The opera took place on an actual boat: the Lightship Ambrose in the South Street Seaport.
“Oh noi contenti!”
Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills.
Crazy extremes
Simon McBurney’s Die Zauberflöte, the second new production of the Met’s May Mozart Miracle, opened on Friday to rousing near-unanimous cheers.
It’s a time for making merry
On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s musical Mame opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run 1,508 performances.
“A palace in which you know every room isn’t worth living in”
On this day in 1963 The Leopard directed by Luchino Visconti won the Cannes Palme d’Or.
Meister of ceremony
Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner.
First thoughts
JJ//La Cieca crave your indulgence as they address some ongoing health challenges.
Are women magic?
On this day in 1973 the film Day for Night premiered at Cannes.
Aida
The troubled run of Verdi’s opera at the Met this season is almost over.
Creature of the stage
Nina Stemme’s program guided her audience through a period of musical history that explores themes of love and mortality with texts that traverse emotional extremes.
“Always be smarter than the people who hire you”
On this day in 1981 Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music opened at the Nederlander Theatre to run 333 performances.
Keep it a happy song
On this day in 1965 the Kander-Ebb musical Flora, the Red Menace opened at the Alvin Theatre, to run 87 performances.
It takes a Village
Born on this day in 1922 actress (and, somewhat less frequently, director) Nancy Walker.
Don Giovanni
“One consistent feature was a tendency across the cast to tip from recitative into aria with no pause for breath or thought. The effect was almost naturalistic—if such a thing were possible in opera—and was just one example of the many ways in which the night’s music felt fresh, even urgent.”