Miss me blonde Miss me blonde

Happy 61st birthday soprano Karita Mattila.

Old school Old school

Born on this day in 1910 singer, actress and arts advocate Kitty Carlisle Hart.

Disney princess Disney princess

Born on this day in 1919 dancer Marge Champion.

By Porpora demand By Porpora demand

Important European revivals this season would like to return Nicola Porpora to the remarkable prominence he held during the first half of the 18th century. Trove Thursday argues his case with a “pirate” recording of Polifemo featuring Franco Fagioli in a star performance along with Xavier Sabata (pictured), Laura Aikin, Mary-Ellen Nesi and Christian Senn.

Rainy day Rainy day

Happy 93rd birthday actor and dreamboat George Maharis.

That’s why I pulled the trigger That’s why I pulled the trigger

Watching Gloria Grahame—lips moist and parted, eyes staring off into some faraway middle distance—is absolutely arresting. She looks like the quintessential Noir femme fatale that was, in fact, probably her principal calling card.

The slave who would be empress The slave who would be empress

On this day in 1056 Byzantine Empress Theodora died childless, thus ending the Macedonian dynasty.

Love for sail Love for sail

Last weekend, On Site Opera presented What Lies Beneath, a program of maritime-themed operatic excerpts staged aboard the 19th century schooner Wavertree (now a part of the South Street Seaport Museum).

Forget your sympathy Forget your sympathy

Born on this day in 1906 actress Joan Blondell.

Tenors al fresco Tenors al fresco

Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres are two singers at the top of their game, as this concert showed, virtually peerless in music as punishing as it is pretty.

“I never thought of myself as a type” “I never thought of myself as a type”

Born on this day in 1930 Ben Gazzara.

The real king The real king

Bay Street Theater deserves enormous credit for transforming Camelot from a clumsy historical epic into a breezy, human fairytale about leaders who cannot lead.

Going strong Going strong

Born on this day in 1916 actress, comedian and singer Martha Raye.

Gamine attractions Gamine attractions

On this day in 1951, the film An American in Paris debuted in London.

Get ready for the judgment day Get ready for the judgment day

In anticipation of the Met’s reopening performance on September 11, another serving of pandemic-hoarding arrives on Trove Thursday with 10 rare live performances of the Verdi Requiem’s concluding “Libera me.”

I only have eyes for you I only have eyes for you

Born on this day in 1909 actress, dancer and singer Ruby Keeler.

Met, Orchestra reach agreement Met, Orchestra reach agreement

A new collective bargaining agreement between the Metropolitan Opera and its orchestra, the last of the Met’s three largest unions to reach an agreement, was ratified today.

On the edge of my seat On the edge of my seat

The San Francisco Opera became the first US opera company to present a full-blown production indoors on its home turf this season when they ushered the US opera audience into 2021-22 Season on Saturday September 21 with a stellar performance of Giacomo Puccini’s perennial favorite Tosca.

Listen to the sound of the city Listen to the sound of the city

Happy 63rd birthday actor Steve Guttenberg.

This time I know it’s for reel This time I know it’s for reel

Happy 67th birthday to the ineffable actor, screenwriter, playwright, female impersonator and memoirist Charles Busch.

Gala Rossini Gala Rossini

Featuring Juan Diego Flórez, Marina Monzó, Marta Pluda, Manuel Amati, Giorgio Caoduro, Nicolò Donini, Matteo Roma, Sergey Romanovsky, Pietro Spagnoli and Jack Swanson.

Who is Sylva? Who is Sylva?

Born on this day in 1933 actress Sylva Koscina.

While you were sleeping While you were sleeping

Jennifer Hudson “honors” Aretha Franklin by singing “Nessun dorma.”

Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung

Frank Castorf’s staging of the Ring, premiered in 2013 and filmed in 2016, provoked controversy right from the beginning. Marek Janowski’s musical reading was unanimously praised