The Met and Anna Netrebko part ways
“It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb.
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French twist
The Met’s new Don Carlos has prompted a lot of discussion lately about opera-in-translation, so Trove Thursday this week offers two works unexpectedly performed in French: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Snegourotchka and Weber’s Euryanthe.
Love is blonde
Born on this day in 1911 actress Jean Harlow.
The mighty monarch of all melodramas
On this day in 1933 the film King Kong premiered simultaneously at Radio City Music Hall and the RKO Roxy.
Doing something right
There was something very Russian—indeed, Chekhovian—about the mix of joy and tears, as the Academy of Vocal Arts performed Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
Back to black
When was the last time the Metropolitan Opera mounted a new production that was musically outstanding yet the direction and/or design mostly sucked?
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Anna: ‘Au revoir’
In a busy flurry of Instagram posts earlier today, Anna Netrebko announced a temporary withdrawal from her performing career.
Our retrospection will be all to the future
The Met’s new season, including Medea with Sondra Radvanovsky, set parterrian tongues wagging during the month of February 2022.
But the work waits!
On this day in 1979 Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler‘s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opened at the Uris Theatre.
Don Carlos
Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Matthew Polenzani in the title role, Sonya Yoncheva as Élisabeth de Valois, Jamie Barton as Eboli, Etienne Dupuis as Rodrigue, Eric Owens as Philippe II and John Relyea as the Grand Inquisitor.
Old masters
Jordi Savall and William Christie, 80 and 77 respectively, stand as the two senior masters whose recordings and appearances have done the most over the past decades to build a healthy local enthusiasm for pre-Classical music.
Broadway baby
Born on this day in 1948 actress and singer Bernadette Peters.
(Yet more) Thoughts on ‘Don Carlos’: Coronations and finales
In any case, we are now in the Queen’s garden of the Palace in Madrid. It is the day before the coronation of King Philip. Coronation? What coronation?
Shine on you crazy diamond
Born on this day in 1932 actress and humanitarian Dame Elizabeth Taylor.
(More) Thoughts on ‘Don Carlos’: Carlo or Carlos?
The only correct version of Don Carlos must be in French. That is the language that Verdi composed it in and he made all his revisions in that language.
The ultimate 101 course on how to handle fame and success
Artistic temperament she had, but not including self-centered megalomania. She was one of the most fully human individuals I have ever known.
Groundbreaking Artists on the Air
Highlights showcase the Met’s most revered African American stars.
Incendiary Blonde
Born on this day in 1921 actress, comedian, dancer, and singer Betty Hutton.
(Some) Thoughts on ‘Don Carlos’
In online discussion on “Favorite Opera” and cuts in opera in general, it seems Don Carlos (in its original French title) or Don Carlo (as it is better known in Italian) – with or without the “s” – generally get the most votes both as favorite and as an opera from which deplorable cuts are made.
One, two, three, kick!
On this day in 1953, Wonderful Town, a collaboration between Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Leonard Bernstein, opened at the Winter Garden Theater. Rosalind Russell starred as aspiring writer Ruth Sherwood.
Bored to death
Trove Thursday offers Shostakovich’s 1962 Katerina Izmailova with Australian soprano Marie Collier as its anti-heroine and Jon Vickers as her lover.
I can see clearly now
Happy 88th Birthday soprano, director and teacher Renata Scotto.
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season announcement
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season will offer seven new productions including the world-premiere staging of The Hours and the company premieres of Champion and Medea.