Boris Godunov Boris Godunov

René Pape, the world’s reigning Boris, reprises his overwhelming portrayal of the tortured tsar in the original 1869 version of the opera.

Trouble in River City Trouble in River City

Jerry Zaks’ high-gloss production, which trades heavily on a bland Americana at odds with the sharp satire of Meredith Willson’s libretto and timeless score, operates on all cylinders but fires on hardly any.

Queenie Queenie

Born on this day in 1911 actress Merle Oberon.

Poetess Poetess

Born on this day in 1926 mezzo-soprano Rita Gorr.

American gongster American gongster

Tantalizing tenor Michael Fabiano adds a new role to his repertoire barely five weeks from today.

A place in the shade A place in the shade

Next Wednesday is the composer’s 337th birthday, so Trove Thursday previews this spring’s most enticing Handel performance with two very different live versions of his delightful Serse,.

Moving on Moving on

The Kennedy Center’s Opera House was a white-hot crucible of theatre kid energy on Friday evening for a luxurious 50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center gala.

“Hello, possums!” “Hello, possums!”

Happy 88th birthday to comedian Barry (“Dame Edna”) Humphries.

Happy Go Lovely Happy Go Lovely

Born on this day in 1921 dancer Vera-Ellen.

Music doesn’t argue, discuss, or quarrel Music doesn’t argue, discuss, or quarrel

Born on this day in 1905 composer Harold Arlen.

Die Tote Stadt Die Tote Stadt

A Willy Decker production, live from the Vienna State Opera.

Cries and whispers Cries and whispers

Embedded in the discursive scenes that make up the 100-minute play Shhhh is the notion that the line between pleasure and pain—of the corporeal and psychological varieties—is ever-shifting and often problematically conceived.

Oh, brother! Oh, brother!

Born on this day in 1905 actress Thelma Ritter.

Verdi Requiem Verdi Requiem

Performance from September 11, 2021. Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Ailyn Pérez, Michelle DeYoung, Matthew Polenzani, Eric Owens.

I have designed flower women I have designed flower women

On this day in 1947 Christian Dior unveiled the “New Look.”

It’s Time for Tina It’s Time for Tina

Happy 88th birthday to actress and singer Tina Louise.

Treasured island Treasured island

Trove Thursday offers a 1994 “pirate” of Ariadne auf Naxos featuring Gabriela Benacková and Natalie Dessay, along with another Viennese diva pairing: Benacková and Sena Jurinac in the second act of Janacek’s Jenufa.

Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!

Happy 95th birthday soprano Leontyne Price.

“I say money, money, money, and I say hot dog!” “I say money, money, money, and I say hot dog!”

Born on this day in 1909 actress, singer, and dancer Carmen Miranda.

As if we never said goodbye As if we never said goodbye

“As for next year, Gheorghiu makes an as-yet-unannounced return for the first time in seven years to the Met in New York.”

Vastly vivid Vastly vivid

Lyric Opera of Chicago scored a smashing success on Sunday with its “Verdi Voices” concert, featuring soprano Tamara Wilson, tenor Russell Thomas, and Lyric Music Director Enrique Mazzola conducting Members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in what might be termed a program of Verdi’s Greatest Hits.

Woman’s work is never done Woman’s work is never done

Born on this day in 1922 actress Audrey Meadows.

Manon Lescaut Manon Lescaut

Francesco Ivan Ciampa conducts Asmik Grigorian, Boris Pinkhasovich, Brian Jagde and Josh Lovell.

Say yes Say yes

Born on this day in 1923 actress Dora Bryan.