High style in low company High style in low company

Born on this day in 1888 novelist, playwright and screenwriter Anita Loos.

Stained class Stained class

With no disrespect to Nadine Sierra, who as Lucia acquits herself honorably if not magically in vocal terms, the undisputed cause célèbre here is director Simon Stone.

Lucia di Lammermoor Lucia di Lammermoor

Evelino Pidò leads Lisette Oropesa, Benjamin Bernheim and George Petean in this live broadcast from the Vienna State Opera.

Like sand on the beach Like sand on the beach

Happy 80th birthday to Ms. Barbra Joan Streisand.

The Gershwins’ ‘Porgy and Bess’ The Gershwins’ ‘Porgy and Bess’

Angel Blue and Eric Owens are featured in this repeat broadcast.

No sex please, we’re German No sex please, we’re German

Why is so twinkling, tuneful a score so little known?

Too high! Too high!

Born on this day in 1928 performer and diplomat Shirley Temple.

Madama Butterfly Madama Butterfly

Eleonora Buratto and Brian Jagde star.

“Spare me your anatomy!” “Spare me your anatomy!”

Happy 76th birthday to actor, director, producer, and screenwriter John Waters.

Die Walküre, Act 1 Die Walküre, Act 1

Elisabeth Teige and Brandon Jovanovich are the cursed twins in this production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin, directed by Stefan Herheim.

The slave who would be queen The slave who would be queen

The Met’s Nabucco revival was an early pandemic casualty and it’s unlikely to be rescheduled anytime soon as its raison d’être has been (at least temporarily) banished, so Trove Thursday programs Verdi’s early success with Rita Hunter, Kostas Paskalis and Ferruccio Furlanetto, plus a cabaletta-quiz in which 15 sopranos tackle “Salgo già!”

“The theater is a tough place” “The theater is a tough place”

Happy 73rd birthday to Broadway legend Patti LuPone.

Tough broad Tough broad

Born on this day in 1924 actress Nina Foch.

Middle America in caps Middle America in caps

This is more than just a revival—it’s a reinvigoration of what I consider to be one of the best works of the last 50 years.

Das Rheingold Das Rheingold

From the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sir Donald Runnicles conducts and Stefan Herheim directs a new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen.

She wants to be a prima donna She wants to be a prima donna

Ireland’s Wexford Festival Opera marked its 70th birthday in 2021 by presenting four prima donnas who made important early appearances at the festival in solo recitals across the globe.

“I will never be satisfied” “I will never be satisfied”

Born on this day in 1933 actress Jayne Mansfield.

Scathingly brilliant Scathingly brilliant

Happy 76th birthday to actress Hayley Mills.

Elektra Elektra

Live from the Met, Donald Runnicles conducts Nina Stemme (Elektra), Lise Davidsen (Chrysothemis), Michaela Schuster (Klytämnestra), Greer Grimsley (Orest), Stefan Vinke (Aegisth).

Ooh la la! Ooh la la!

Born on this day in 1904 Canadian-American artiste Fifi D’Orsay.

Incandescent like some adolescent Incandescent like some adolescent

She Loves Me can take a beating.

Bond girl Bond girl

Born on this day in 1947 actress and model Lois chiles.

Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin

Baritone Igor Golovatenko returns on the heels of an impressive 2019 Met debut in The Queen of Spades to sing the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects Tatiana, much to his later dismay.

Lise with a Z(emlinsky) Lise with a Z(emlinsky)

Recent discussion about soprano Lise Davidsen has included much speculation about music she might undertake in the future.