The favorite
Gabriela Benacková, one of Trove Thursday’s favorite sopranos, turns 75 tomorrow, so we celebrate with two rare complete Verdi portrayals.
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The Sultan of Sequins
Born on this day in 1940 designer Bob Mackie.
Baby got backup
Michel van der Aa’s new opera UPLOAD at the Park Avenue Armory explores the various ethical issues surrounding AI while coming back to a set of classic philosophical questions about free will, pain and the nature of the soul.
“I am just too much”
Born on this day in 1904(!) actress Joan Crawford.
Turandot
Michael Fabiano makes his role debut as Calaf in this performance from the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
Daughter of the wind
Happy 72nd birthday actress, director and screenwriter Fanny Ardant.
Soaring on multicolored wings
Eleanora Buratto at this fully matured point of her career has a warm, creamy full lyric soprano that has the roundness and sweet warmth of a Freni but can also expand into the spinto power of a Tebaldi.
‘Così,’ cheap ‘n cheerful
In 2022, making Così fan tutte intimate is not a radical act. Making it enjoyable, however, is.
La peau douce
Born on this day in 1942 actress Françoise Dorléac.
Salome
The Bard Conservatory Orchestra joins an exciting principal cast of singers in a semi-staged performance of Richard Strauss’s once infamous, now famous opera, directed by R. B. Schlather.
Some sunny day
Born on this day in 1917 English songstress Dame Vera Lynn.
Shining ‘Hours’
Dramaturgically, The Hours is a mixed bag: I wouldn’t discard it, but I would want to fix it. But simply as an evening of gorgeous music and singing, it’s cordon bleu.
Rodelinda
Captivating soprano Elza van den Heever sings her first Handel at the Met, making her role debut as the title heroine of the composer’s stunning Baroque drama. Harry Bicket conducts.
“Ursula Undress”
Happy 86th birthday actress Ursula Andress.
Don Carlos
From the Metropolitan Opera, Matthew Polenzani, Sonya Yoncheva, Jamie Barton, Etienne Dupuis, Eric Owens and John Relyea.
Worth the wait
Ana Maria Martinez is an artist of the first caliber, which was richly evident throughout this imaginative, substantial (nearly two hours!) program, which was (thank you!) offered without a music stand.
From A to Z
Has there ever been a more perfect opera to watch after a breakup than Ariadne auf Naxos?
A lady has responsibilities
Happy 58th birthday to actress and singer Vanessa Williams.
Hopelessly human
The Boston Symphony and Alban Berg’s “Wir arme Leut” spread musical riches at Carnegie Hall.
But whom to love?To trust and treasure?
Trove Thursday welcomes the return to the Met of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin on March 25 with a collection of important moments from the opera.
You will see her dance
Born on this day in 1906 actress Brigitte Helm.
Passion play
Los Angeles Opera’s St. Matthew Passion was by equal parts challenging and hypnotic to watch.
A Philly that is ready for the race
As we continue to watch the world of live performance come cautiously back to post-COVID levels, I felt the greatest surge of joy so far when I saw Opera Philadelphia’s announcement of their 2022-23 season—and most especially, the reboot of Festival O.
An adventuress
On this day in 1914 female impersonator Julian Eltinge opened in The Crinoline Girl at the Knickerbocker Theatre.