Capriccio Capriccio

Live from the Munich Prinzregententheater.

I want your sax I want your sax

Born on this day in 1917 actress, comedian and voice artist Phyllis Diller.

Le Songe d’un nuit d’été Le Songe d’un nuit d’été

The very free adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set by Ambroise Thomas, as heard at Wexford in 2021.

Humming a different tune Humming a different tune

Born on this day in 1911 triple threat (at least) Ginger Rogers.

Nabucco Nabucco

Conductor: Nicola Luisotti; Stage director: Andreas Homoki; Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Madrid.

Gee but it’s nice to see you again Gee but it’s nice to see you again

Happy 76th birthday to singer and songwriter Linda Ronstadt.

Behold the happy pair Behold the happy pair

Beverly Sills and Renée Fleming perform 30 years apart the same work with the same orchestra in the same venue!

He’ll look at me and smile He’ll look at me and smile

Born on this day in 1930 actress and singer Polly Bergen.

Mother, forgive the delay Mother, forgive the delay

On this day in 2010 Rialto divas Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch went into a revival of A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Maria Stuarda Maria Stuarda

Heading the cast of this Irish National Opera production is mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught.

Star-surrounded, high above Star-surrounded, high above

Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.

“People believe what they want to believe” “People believe what they want to believe”

Born on this day in 1931 actor Tab Hunter.

Tears of a clown Tears of a clown

Happy 53rd birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Rienzi Rienzi

Marc Albrecht leads Wagner’s early grand opera, recorded June 22 at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest.

“Forever is a very long time” “Forever is a very long time”

Born on this day in 1901 authoress Barbara Cartland.

“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.