Knocking on heaven’s door
On this day in 1959 soprano Martina Arroyo made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Celestial Voice in Don Carlo.
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Overachiever
The program for Jasmine Rice LaBeija’s concert as part of Works & Process at the Guggenheim on Wednesday, March 8 read a bit like a curriculum vitae.
“You must change your life”
This was a wonderful concert because MIchael Tilson Thomas approached every moment of it with an air of expansiveness and gratitude.
It might as well be Einspring
I can’t imagine anything more anxiety-inducing than being put in at last-minute to sing a role in a high-profile production at the Met.
Cistern act
On this day in 1965 the Metropolitan Opera offered a matinee performance of Salome featuring Birgit Nilsson.
Master of monumentality
On this day in 1987 the Met raised the curtain on Franco Zeffirelli‘s production of Turandot.
La traviata
Angel Blue’s “experience in the role shows as the voice sails over the arching lines of Verdi’s cantilena like liquid velvet.”
Hear the trumpets sound!
Frankly I thought Sondra Radvanovsky had reached her pinnacle with her Norma but I was apparently mistaken. I’m happy to say her Turandot is completely next-level.
Isle, follow my secret heart
On this day in 1993, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Ariadne auf Naxos.
Touched by a fallen Angel
Angel Blue‘s refulgent, lush soprano blooms as Violetta’s vocal lines broaden and soar.
“A graceful trifle”
On this day in 1928 the Metropolitan Opera presented the United States premiere of Puccini’s La rondine starring Lucrezia Bori and Beniamino GIgli.
Monsters, no-neck and otherwise
Through a lucky coincidence of timing, I was able to catch up with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a play I adore, in two productions playing at the same time.
Fascinating chiaroscuro
On this day in 1984, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini.
Norma
Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 with a broadcast of Bellini’s masterpiece.
Fancy pants
On this day in 1976 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Octavian.
Valse impériale
Born on this day in 1931 soprano Mady Mesplé.
Distinct and different
The Vienna Philharmonic brought along no star soloist for their three-night residency at Carnegie Hall this past weekend. Their programs didn’t include any commissions or flashy new works. The repertoire choices hewed closely to the core Austro-German corpus for which they are justly famous, including multiple works they had given in their world premieres.
Sworded lives
On this day in 1969 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Verdi’s Il trovatore.
Voyna i mir
Vladimir Jurowski conducts a new production by Dmitri Tcherniakov of Prokofiev’s epic. Streamed live from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Loony Kazan
On this day in 2010 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Shostakovich’s The Nose.
La favorita
Today’s “Listeners’ Choice” is a broadcast of Donizetti’s opera from March 11, 1978.
Nymph errant
On this day in 1922 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company debut of Catalani’s Loreley.
Coast to coast
Non-observant Jew that I am, my recent immersion into not one by two new plays—Pictures from Home on Broadway, and The Wanderers at the Roundabout—that very much live in that world was something of a double-whammy.
That’s what friends are for
On this day in 1970 mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne made her Metropolitan Opera debut in a new production of Norma.