Making her garden grown
Joyce DiDonato admits that she is “a problem solver, a dreamer, and—yes I’m a belligerent optimist.”
Recent Stories
High style in low company
Born on this day in 1888 novelist, playwright and screenwriter Anita Loos.
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).
Stained class
With no disrespect to Nadine Sierra, who as Lucia acquits herself honorably if not magically in vocal terms, the undisputed cause célèbre here is director Simon Stone.
Lucia di Lammermoor
Evelino Pidò leads Lisette Oropesa, Benjamin Bernheim and George Petean in this live broadcast from the Vienna State Opera.
Like sand on the beach
Happy 80th birthday to Ms. Barbra Joan Streisand.
The Gershwins’ ‘Porgy and Bess’
Angel Blue and Eric Owens are featured in this repeat broadcast.
No sex please, we’re German
Why is so twinkling, tuneful a score so little known?
Too high!
Born on this day in 1928 performer and diplomat Shirley Temple.
“Spare me your anatomy!”
Happy 76th birthday to actor, director, producer, and screenwriter John Waters.
Die Walküre, Act 1
Elisabeth Teige and Brandon Jovanovich are the cursed twins in this production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin, directed by Stefan Herheim.
The slave who would be queen
The Met’s Nabucco revival was an early pandemic casualty and it’s unlikely to be rescheduled anytime soon as its raison d’être has been (at least temporarily) banished, so Trove Thursday programs Verdi’s early success with Rita Hunter, Kostas Paskalis and Ferruccio Furlanetto, plus a cabaletta-quiz in which 15 sopranos tackle “Salgo già!”
“The theater is a tough place”
Happy 73rd birthday to Broadway legend Patti LuPone.
Tough broad
Born on this day in 1924 actress Nina Foch.
Middle America in caps
This is more than just a revival—it’s a reinvigoration of what I consider to be one of the best works of the last 50 years.
Das Rheingold
From the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sir Donald Runnicles conducts and Stefan Herheim directs a new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen.
She wants to be a prima donna
Ireland’s Wexford Festival Opera marked its 70th birthday in 2021 by presenting four prima donnas who made important early appearances at the festival in solo recitals across the globe.
“I will never be satisfied”
Born on this day in 1933 actress Jayne Mansfield.
Scathingly brilliant
Happy 76th birthday to actress Hayley Mills.
Elektra
Live from the Met, Donald Runnicles conducts Nina Stemme (Elektra), Lise Davidsen (Chrysothemis), Michaela Schuster (Klytämnestra), Greer Grimsley (Orest), Stefan Vinke (Aegisth).
Ooh la la!
Born on this day in 1904 Canadian-American artiste Fifi D’Orsay.
Incandescent like some adolescent
She Loves Me can take a beating.
Bond girl
Born on this day in 1947 actress and model Lois chiles.