I am your Bebe now I am your Bebe now

Born on this day in 1901 actress, singer, dancer, writer and producer Bebe Daniels.

Are you there, God? It’s me, Margared Are you there, God? It’s me, Margared

Trove Thursday offers a nearly forgotten 19th  century opera with a most marvelous name: Le Roi d’Ys by Éduoard Lalo featuring a superb French cast led by Alain Vanzo, Andrea Guiot, Jane Rhodes and Robert Massard.

Mademoiselle will do Mademoiselle will do

Born on this day in 1905 actress Kay Francis.

Weep no more, my lady Weep no more, my lady

Born on this day 1910 impossibly difficult actress Luise Rainer.

Electrifying Electrifying

On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.

Midwinter marriage Midwinter marriage

Despite having lost its announced Cherubino, conductor and Count (the latter in the midst of rehearsals), the season premiere of Le Nozze di Figaro Saturday afternoon proved to be one of the most enjoyable Met Mozart performances I’ve attended in ages.

Young as we are Young as we are

Born on this day in 1939 actor Sal Mineo.

Lovely wonderful thoughts Lovely wonderful thoughts

On this dayin 1956 an encore live TV presentation of Peter Pan starred Mary Martin.

“You just have to think naked” “You just have to think naked”

Born on this day in 1911 ecdysiast Gypsy Rose Lee.

Fire Shut Up in my Bones Fire Shut Up in my Bones

Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Will Liverman (Charles), Angel Blue (Destiny/Loneliness/Greta), Latonia Moore (Billie).

Mad Max Mad Max

Trove Thursday begins 2022 with a favorite magical opera tinkered with by another great composer: Weber’s Der Freischütz in Berlioz’s French version conducted by Christoph Eschenbach with the great José van Dam as Gaspard!

Enter, stage right Enter, stage right

Born on this day in 1913 actress and clothes horse Loretta Young.

Queen bee Queen bee

Also on this day in 1977 soprano Edita Gruberova made her Met debut as the Queen of the Night.

Rigoletto Rigoletto

Baritone Michael Chioldi jumps into the title role for tonight’s performance.

Well, maybe next year Well, maybe next year

For a number of reasons including a surge in COVID cases, PROTOTYPE Festival has canceled its Winter 2022 season.

A fine romance A fine romance

Happy 85th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.

A paler white of shade A paler white of shade

“They weren’t booing me,” he clarifies.

Not so dumb Not so dumb

Born on this day in 1897 actress Marion Davies.

On her toes On her toes

Born on this day ballerina and actress Vera Zorina.

Cinderella Cinderella

The abridged family version of the opera is heard again.

Ancien Régime Ancien Régime

Born on this day in 1923 the ineffable Valentina Cortese.

Any old palace Any old palace

At the heart of this success was Quinn Kelsey’s revelatory take on Rigoletto. He was matched, vocally and dramatically, by Rosa Feola’s Gilda—a tour-de-force performance.

Rigoletto Rigoletto

A gala new production of Verdi’s opera, live from the Met.

Die Fledermaus Die Fledermaus

Live from the Vienna State Opera with Andreas Schager and Rachel Willis-Sorensen.