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.

What’s wrong with Sammy Kaye? What’s wrong with Sammy Kaye?

On this day in 1960 the Charles Strouse-Lee Adams musical Bye Bye Birdie opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre, to run 607 performances.

Jupiter’s darling Jupiter’s darling

Born on this day in 1906 film and stage baritone Howard Keel.

A crazier day A crazier day

Saturday’s performance of Le nozze di Figaro at the Met mined the humor from Mozart’s divine setting of Beaumarchais’s play about a crazy day in the Almaviva household.

Strangeness of the body Strangeness of the body

On this past, rainy Thursday, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s delivered a really rather extraordinary performance of the St. Matthew Passion.  To me, this evening was a fascinating exploration of work.

Primitive though it may be Primitive though it may be

Born on this day in 1923 tops in taps terpsichorean Ann Miller.

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

James Gaffigan; Christian Van Horn (Figaro), Ying Fang (Susanna), Federica Lombardi (Countess Almaviva), Gerald Finley (Count Almaviva), Sasha Cooke (Cherubino), Elizabeth Bishop (Marcellina), Maurizio Muraro (Dr. Bartolo).

What an adventure! What an adventure!

Born on this day in 1933 actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.

Camarena delivers Camarena delivers

From the multiple standing ovations, to say nothing of the gentleman in the front row waving the Mexican flag, I can safely say that a very good time was had by all.

Steam heat Steam heat

Born on this day in 1931 actor and diplomat John Gavin.