“Beautiful things comfort” “Beautiful things comfort”

Happy 71st birthday actress, director and producer Anjelica Huston.

Back to baroque Back to baroque

The always elegant Véronique Gens has recently returned often to her earliest roots in the French baroque.

“I was a stage-struck kid” “I was a stage-struck kid”

Born on this day in 1899 film director George Cukor.

Angry young men Angry young men

Since April four wildly varied incarnations of Hamlet have been haunting New York City theaters; the most recent to arrive was Robert Icke’s chicly contemporary take on Shakespeare’s play which opened last week at the Park Avenue Armory.

Serenade Serenade

Born on this day in 1931 chanteuse and actress Della Reese.

The Verdi thing The Verdi thing

On Thursday June 30th, San Francisco Opera closed their summer season with a one-night-only special concert celebrating Eun Sun Kim’s first season as the Caroline H. Hume Music Director, in an aptly named concert “Eun Sun Kim Conducts Verdi.”

Sweet and sour Sweet and sour

People’s Light deserves commendation for resurfacing The Vinegar Tree, and there’s satisfaction in seeing a fine old play handled with care.

Learning to be human Learning to be human

Born on this day in 1936 actress Shirley Knight.

La fanciulla del West La fanciulla del West

From the Staatsoper Berlin, Anja Kampe sings Minnie, Marcelo Álvarez is the bandit Dick Johnson and Michael Volle plays Jack Rance. Massimo Zanetti conducts.

My epiglottis filled him with glee My epiglottis filled him with glee

Born on this day in 1898, vastly talented actress and singer Gertrude Lawrence.

Parsifal Parsifal

The cast includes Toby Spence in the title role and Katerina Karnéus as Kundry and the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North are conducted by Richard Farnes.

“Riches, the dumb god” “Riches, the dumb god”

On this day in 1964, the legendary Bert Lahr opened in a new musical, Foxy, which sadly ran only 72 performances.

The ‘Woods’, the bad and the ugly The ‘Woods’, the bad and the ugly

In a slow month for opera, parterre box readers turned their attention to a musical: Into the Woods.

Can’t get you out of my head Can’t get you out of my head

Trove Thursday presents its own “White Nights Festival” Glinka double bill.

Troubles fly away Troubles fly away

Born on this day in 1917 actress Susan Hayward.

“I’m usually told how happy I am” “I’m usually told how happy I am”

On this day in 1956 actress Marilyn Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller.

“I was never an ingenue” “I was never an ingenue”

Happy 74th birthday to actress and occasional songstress Kathy Bates.

La Bellissima La Bellissima

Born on this day in 1932 soprano Anna Moffo.

La traviata La traviata

In this video from 2015, soprano Lisette Oropesa makes her role debut as Violetta in a new production of Verdi’s La traviata at the Academy of Music.

Horse whisperer Horse whisperer

Born on this day in 1922 actress Eleanor Parker.

Samson et Dalila Samson et Dalila

Baritone-turned-tenor SeokJong Baek and superstar mezzo Elina Garanca take the title roles in Richard Jones‘s new production of Saint-Saëns’s biblical opera.

“Opera is big and scary” “Opera is big and scary”

Happy 82nd birthday to soprano and actress Mary Beth Peil.

She’s way ahead She’s way ahead

Happy 80th birthday actress and singer Michele Lee.

The sound of silence The sound of silence

Die Schweigsame Frau, in a Munich performance featuring Kurt Moll, Julie Kaufmann, Francisco Araiza and Wolfgang Rauch conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch.