Turandot Turandot

A new production of Puccini’s lyric drama is conducted by Zubin Mehta and directed by Philipp Stölzl.

The night is romantic and I am alone The night is romantic and I am alone

Born on this day in 1903 actress and soprano Jeanette MacDonald.

Al fresco Al fresco

On this day in 1967 Barbra Streisand performed A Happening in Central Park.

The Italian job The Italian job

Trove Thursday presents a delightful pirate recording from the 1983 Pesaro Festival of Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia with a cast headed by three Americans—Trove fav Lella Cuberli, Samuel Ramey and David Kuebler—along with Alessandro Corbelli and Luigi De Corato, conducted by Donato Renzetti.

Song of my homeland Song of my homeland

Born on this day in 1910 actress Ilona Massey.

“Why do people have to love people anyway?” “Why do people have to love people anyway?”

On this day in 1960 the film The Apartment premiered in New York City.

Thousand yard stair Thousand yard stair

On this day the revue New Faces of 1956 opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, featuring an eclectic collection of talent including Maggie Smith, Jane Connell, Tiger Haynes, John Reardon, Bill McCutcheon and Inga Swenson.

I suspect you’re a treasure I suspect you’re a treasure

Born on this day in 1910 comic actress Mary Wickes.

Intention Intention

Born on this day in 1919 handmaiden of Melpomene Uta Hagen.

Thaïs Thaïs

Ermonela Jaho and Ludovic Tézier are featured in a performance recorded at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées à Paris.

Sing happy Sing happy

On this day in 1965, LIza Minnelli made her Broadway debut at the age of 19 in Flora, the Red Menace.

Romeo and Gilda Romeo and Gilda

The winners of the evening were the composer Riccardo Zandonai and Teatro Grattacielo which pulled off a near-impossible feat with success.

Either less or more Either less or more

An elegantly streamlined production of Into the Woods now on stage at Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre makes the best case for the show I’ve yet seen

Right when I arrive I really come alive Right when I arrive I really come alive

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miss Show Business.

Queen’s evidence Queen’s evidence

Trove Thursday’s belated contribution to last weekend’s Platinum Jubilee is a broadcast from Aldeburgh of Benjamin Britten’s Gloriana with Christine Brewer and Tom Randle as Elizabeth and Essex, an opera which premiered 69 years ago yesterday.

Yours till I die Yours till I die

Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.

Rigoletto Rigoletto

Quinn Kelsey gives a commanding performance in the title role, alongside Erin Morley as Gilda and Stephen Costello as the Duke of Mantua.

Nancy with the laughing face Nancy with the laughing face

Happy 82nd birthday singer and actress Nancy Sinatra.

Wet blanket Wet blanket

Do you know the musical about the quirky little girl, her dysfunctional family and the devastating secret that binds them all together?

Those monsters look like us Those monsters look like us

“This used to be a funhouse… but now it’s full of evil clowns / It’s time to start the countdown…. I’m gonna burn it down”

La Gioconda La Gioconda

Live from La Scala, Ponchielli’s melodrama featuring Saioa Hernández, Daniela Barcellona, Erwin Schrott, Anna Maria Chiuri, Fabio Sartori Stefano La Colla and Roberto Frontali, conducted by Frédéric Chaslin.

An old-fangled tango An old-fangled tango

Happy 59th birthday tenor Roberto Alagna.

Welcome to the sixties! Welcome to the sixties!

Happy 68th birthday to playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein.

Transcontinental Transcontinental

On this day in 1883, the Orient Express departed on its maiden journey, from Paris to Vienna.