Take me to the world Take me to the world

With one show opening Sunday, another beginning previews on Monday and two more scheduled for the spring, 2021-22 will be yet another Stephen Sondheim-centric season in New York City which leads Trove Thursday to offer three “international” live recordings in which the artist’s works are performed without his inimitable English lyrics.

Dreamboat Dreamboat

Born on this day in 1889 actor Clifton Webb.

It ain’t easy being tween It ain’t easy being tween

The purview of so much gay theater still focuses squarely on trauma—consider the recent Tony sweep of The Inheritance—that the story of a queeny pre-teen who loves Diana Ross and lives out loud unapologetically seemed like a welcome tonic.

Catch him if you can! Catch him if you can!

Born on this day in 1889 actor Claude Rains.

La bohème La bohème

Conductor Eun Sun Kim, who became music director of San Francisco Opera this fall, makes her Met debut.

Tour de force Tour de force

In their realization of Alcina, Harry Bicket and his ensemble recreated a dramatically vivid and musically nuanced character study out of the opera’s central figures.

Unequal tooning Unequal tooning

There is sensory overload, and very little humanity.

Maybe Tuesday Maybe Tuesday

Born on this day in 1922 singer and actress Dorothy Dandridge.

Open and clothes case Open and clothes case

From an exposure standpoint, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the best thing to happen to opera since Beverly Sills.

Man in the mirror Man in the mirror

Born on this day in 1847 novelist Bram Stoker.

The trill of it all The trill of it all

Born on this day in 1926 soprano Joan Sutherland.

Am I blue? Am I blue?

Born on this day in 1901 musical theatre and film actress Juanita Hall.

Enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate Enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate

Born on this day in 1913 actress Vivien Leigh.

Witchy women Witchy women

You’d think after nearly 40 years of opera going I’d have seen almost everything.. .twice. Yet I found myself at LA Opera Tuesday night for a special presentation of George Frideric Handel’s Alcina which was my first live experience with one of his operas.

Straight to hell Straight to hell

November in New York hosts two premieres dedicated to mythology’s greatest musician, which prompts Trove Thursday to present a vintage Monteverdi L’Orfeo with Judith Raskin and Gérard Souzay conducted by Leopold Stokowski (!) and a recent HIP London broadcast of Luigi Rossi’s L’Orfeo.

The Gaby Glide The Gaby Glide

Born on this day in 1881 artiste Gaby Deslys.

‘Morning’ is broken ‘Morning’ is broken

Morning Sun often feels as occluded and distancing as the austere, featureless set on which it’s performed.

Porgy and Bess Porgy and Bess

The classic American opera features many artists from the triumphant 2019–20 production’s Grammy Award-winning cast. Eric Owens and Angel Blue star as the title couple, with conductor David Robertson on the podium.

Rondo finale Rondo finale

Born on this day in 1801 composer Vincenzo Bellini.

Front page Front page

On this day in 2005 mezzo-soprano Joyce Di Donato made her Met debut as Cherubino.

The high and the mighty The high and the mighty

Last Wednesday the 92nd Street Y presented the friendliest-ever episode of American Gladiators when Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres continued their bel canto bromance with a delirious (almost) all-Rossini recital accompanied by Myra Huang.

Clothes horse Clothes horse

Born on this day in 1904 actress Laura La Plante.

“I am somebody” “I am somebody”

Born on this day in 1896 actress and singer Ethel Waters.

Edmea Edmea

Wexford Festival Opera 2021 presents Alfredo Catalani’s Edmea.