Post of great Price
The ineffable Miss Leontyne Price, anthologized as a subject for Chris’s Cache, swept the board in January 2023.
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A whole can of worms
On this day in 1979 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo.
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).
“Il vostro fato è in vostra mano!”
On this day in 1974 Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani had its Metropolitan Opera stage premiere.
Sleek, unstoppable, electrifying
For me, Fedora is the perfect opera
The color of Monet
When I saw that Richard Bonynge AC CBE, conductor and musicologist supreme, had authored a book titled Chalet Monet about the home he shared with his wife, La Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, in Les Avants, Switzerland I practically had to wipe my chin.
Late riser
On this day in 1957 soprano Martha Modl made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Siegfried Brünnhilde.
Aida
Recorded at the Vienna State Opera earlier this month: Anna Netrebko sings her first Aida and Jonas Kaufmann his first Radames at the Vienna State Opera, Elina Garanca makes her long-awaited debut as Amneris, Luca Salsi can be heard as Amonasro.
Your mother should know
On this day in 1977 the Metropolitan Opera broadcast its new production of Meyerbeer’s Le Prophète.
I vespri siciliani
This new production of Verdi’s grand opera will star Piero Pretti, Marina Rebeka, Luca Micheletti and Simon Lim.
The royal purple of sovereign glory
On this day in 1903, the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Verdi’s Ernani.
Everyone sang out
On this day in 1961 the Metropolitan Opera presented the historic debuts of Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli in Verdi’s Il trovatore.
La traviata
Ermonela Jaho takes her leave of the role of Violetta at the Met tonight.
Touch of evil
On this day in day in 1973 the Metropolitan Opera revived Verdi’s Macbeth with Martina Arroyo and Sherrill Milnes.
Pearls of great Price
Anticipating Leontyne Price’s 96th birthday on February 10, Chris’s Cache presents the American diva in an epic collection of live performances.
Eloquent and finished singing
On this day in 1961 baritone Eberhard Wächter made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Wolfram in Tannhäuser.
Trapped
What happens when you attend a performance and it doesn’t engage you?
Sharp divisions of opinion
On this day in 1958 soprano Inge Borkh made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Salome.
Natural woman
Joyce DiDonato’s Eden immerses listeners within a centuries-spanning musical meditation that channels the majesty of our natural world.
Beyond reasonable limits
On this day in 1953 soprano Herva Nelli made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida.
For the gods
Born on this day in 1897 soprano Rosa Ponselle.
To live extravagantly
On this day in 1963 (much against Rudolf Bing‘s will) the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Adriana Lecouvreur.
Between two mirrors
Shortly before Tuesday’s performance of Salome at La Scala, I did something I rarely do: I took a mirror selfie.