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.
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Isle, follow my secret heart
On this day in 1993, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Ariadne auf Naxos.
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).
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.
Lohengrin
Piotr Beczala is the Grail Knight in tonight’s live broadcast.
Sacred raptures cheer my breast
The English Concert’s annual Handel tour brings Solomon conducted by Harry Bicket to the US beginning Sunday March 5. In anticipation, Chris’s Cache offers Solomon plus four other oratorios by the master: Belshazzar, Hercules, Saul and Jephtha, all via broadcasts for which I feel a personal connection.
Renegade princess
On this day in 1936, mezzo-soprano Bruna Castagna made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
This used to be the future
Like all true opera queens, the parterrians live in the time to come. Thus this month’s #1 most read post!
Zero gravitas
On the train ride home I was thinking that I don’t want to see or hear Norma ever again.
Here comes the sun
On this day in 1945 the Metropolitan Opera revived Rimsky-Korsakov’s Le Coq d’Or.