Vertigo more than tuberculosis
This Traviata remained firmly Beltway-bound and by the time I had gotten home, the 45-minute traffic jam to leave the parking lot was eminently fresher in my mind than the evening’s performance.
Recent Stories
Siberia
A live broadcast of Umberto Giordano’s opera from the Bregenz Festival.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
“Be as a bird”
Lyric Opera of Chicago opens its new season on September 9 with an all-American Ernani, prompting a Trove Thursday preview with three versions of my favorite early Verdi opera featuring as its unlucky heroine: Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo and Aprile Millo.
I ain’t no machine
Happy 71st birthday to Broadway goddess Lillias White.
‘Big D’ energy
Only three years separate the creation of The Most Happy Fella (1956) and The Sound of Music (1959), but there’s a proverbial ocean between these two Golden Age musicals are being performed at prestigious festivals this summer.
You better take my advice
Born on this day in 1924 chanteuse Lola Albright.
Summertime lies
A trip to Mediterranean climes came through musically, as the Boston Symphony Orchestra presented a largely satisfying concert performance of Don Giovanni on July 16.
I’m gonna miss you, baby
On this day in 1951, Dolores Gray, Bert Lahr and a flock of other talent invaded the Mark Hellinger Theatre for the revue Two on the Aisle.
“I will never fail”
Born on this day in 1908 actress, dancer and singer Lupe Vélez.
I want your sax
Born on this day in 1917 actress, comedian and voice artist Phyllis Diller.
Le Songe d’un nuit d’été
The very free adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set by Ambroise Thomas, as heard at Wexford in 2021.
Humming a different tune
Born on this day in 1911 triple threat (at least) Ginger Rogers.
Nabucco
Conductor: Nicola Luisotti; Stage director: Andreas Homoki; Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Madrid.
Gee but it’s nice to see you again
Happy 76th birthday to singer and songwriter Linda Ronstadt.
Behold the happy pair
Beverly Sills and Renée Fleming perform 30 years apart the same work with the same orchestra in the same venue!
He’ll look at me and smile
Born on this day in 1930 actress and singer Polly Bergen.
Mother, forgive the delay
On this day in 2010 Rialto divas Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch went into a revival of A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Maria Stuarda
Heading the cast of this Irish National Opera production is mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught.
Star-surrounded, high above
Born on this day in 1895 soprano Kirsten Flagstad.
“People believe what they want to believe”
Born on this day in 1931 actor Tab Hunter.
Tears of a clown
Happy 53rd birthday tenor Jonas Kaufmann.
Rienzi
Marc Albrecht leads Wagner’s early grand opera, recorded June 22 at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest.