The old work of genius
On this day in 1918 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Bellini’s I puritani featuring soprano Maria Barrientos.
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Comedy tonight
On this day in 1972 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment.
Skiff, I loved you
On this day in 2015 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Rossini’s La donna del lago.
Purcell takes the stage
On Saturday at Alice Tully Hall, Julliard 415, the school’s top-flight period-instrument ensemble, was joined by students from the Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts and Juilliard Drama for a rare semi-staging of King Arthur.
Let it bleed
On this day in 2013 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Wagner’s Parsifal.
One more verse
Happy 64th birthday soprano Renée Fleming!
Act two
Chris’s Cache sends Renata Scotto a valentine ahead of her 89th birthday next week with rare in-house recordings of eight (!) mid-career performances spanning 1971-1977.
A delicate but defined charm
On this day in 1937 soprano Bidu Sayão made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Manon.
Salome
A live video stream of a new production of Strauss’s opera from the Vienna State Opera.
Special ghost star
Ghost sex is part of the popular zeitgeist.
Emotional vitality
On this day in 1958 soprano Gloria Davy made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida.
Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci
A historic performance from 1970 featuring Leonard Bernstein conducting Grace Bumbry and Franco Corelli in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Fausto Cleva conducting Teresa Stratas and Richard Tucker in Pagliacci.
That ‘Girl’
On this day in 1970 Renata Tebaldi introduced her Minnie to the Metropolitan Opera.
Love for music
Happy 96th birthday soprano Leontyne Price.
Reluctant to leave
On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut as Desdemona and her broadcast debut.
Seamless
Baritone Will Liverman is becoming a real Renaissance man.
No minor talent
On this day in 1982 the Metropolitan Opera revisited its controversial season-opener Norma.
Fully immersive
Now the opera world can have a taste of what an immersive opera looks like, as Opera Parallèle opened their spectacular world premiere of Everest: An Immersive Experience .
“Assuredly not a sensation”
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
Here comes the judgement
Chris’s Cache offers a pride of short early English works: John Blow’s Venus and Adonis (1683); Purcell’s King Arthur (1691) and The Indian Queen (1695); John Eccles’s The Judgement of Paris (1700); William Boyce’s Solomon (1743); and John Stanley’s Arcadia (1762).
Wide-eyed mania
There is a moment about 75% of the way through the Rome Narrative where you can almost literally hear Tannhäuser’s stomach turn.
A delicate balance
For anyone who thought that Downton Abbey, with its plot lines divided between the gentry and their faithful (or not-so) servants was somehow unique, that particular tale, and lo its many variations, has been told in one form or another since Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais put quill to paper in 1778 with La Folle Journée, ou Le Mariage de Figaro.
Rather disarming
On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
The most exciting artist
On this day in 1959, soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.