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.

Of dreamless ease fled she Of dreamless ease fled she

Born on this day in 1916 actress Irene Worth.

Shoot your shot Shoot your shot

Director R.B. Schlather deftly walks a porous boundary, casting this primordial paroxysm of Germanness as a dialogue between its naïve and moralistic narrative with its outsized legacy.

“Pain and danger and fear” “Pain and danger and fear”

Happy 90th birthday to actress Prunella Scales.

Dream on Dream on

The second act of Dream of the Red Chamber reached the apex and provided the audience with soul-stirring fulfillment.

“I hated the whole idea of being an actress” “I hated the whole idea of being an actress”

Born on this day in 1921 actress and singer Judy Holliday.

A real vibrancy A real vibrancy

Your favorite box set-aholic here completely missed the release last August of Giuseppe Di Stefano – Complete Decca Recordings in honor of the great tenor’s centenary.

Consistently enthralling Consistently enthralling

To conclude its triumphant season, last week the Met Orchestra performed its annual Carnegie Hall concerts under music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and once again performed superbly.

On the make On the make

Born on this day in 1911 actress Gail Patrick.

How high How high

Born on this day in 1912 soprano Virginia MacWatters.