Fair and warmer Fair and warmer

Happy 88th birthday to actress, dancer and singer Julie Newmar.

A portrait of Ethel A portrait of Ethel

Born on this day in 1879 First Lady of the American Theatre Ethel Barrymore.

Roberto Devereux Roberto Devereux

Sondra Radvanovsky, Russell Thomas and Jamie Barton star in this performance from San Francisco Opera.

Monster’s ball Monster’s ball

Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Alice Ghostley.

Together again for the first time Together again for the first time

At long last the plans for the Met’s 2017 New Year’s Eve Gala are to be realized.

Only a baritone can chop a tree Only a baritone can chop a tree

Born on this day in 1895 comic and actor Bert Lahr.

And five for Mahler And five for Mahler

Trove Thursday returns to vocal works of Gustav Mahler!

A star is barn A star is barn

Born on this day in 1915 dancer and choreographer Michael Kidd.

“Too much rouge is a sign of despair” “Too much rouge is a sign of despair”

Happy 96th birthday actress Arlene Dahl.

First lady of MGM First lady of MGM

Born on this day in 1902 actress Norma Shearer.

The Lord of Cries The Lord of Cries

The Santa Fe Opera’s 17th world premiere is The Lord of Cries by composer John Corigliano and librettist Mark Adamo.

I’m older than I ever intended to be I’m older than I ever intended to be

Happy 64th birthday actress Melanie Griffith.

Never trust the living Never trust the living

Born on this day in 1910 actress Sylvia Sidney.

Provocative entertainment Provocative entertainment

Born on this day in 1911 film director Nicholas Ray.

Tears in heaven Tears in heaven

Awesome, astounding, Asiatic Anna Netrebko sings Puccini and Puccini/Alfano at the Arena di Verona.

Midcentury modern Midcentury modern

Born on this day two 20th century icons: Lucille Ball (1911) and Andy Warhol (1928.)

Fun and games Fun and games

As Tokyo’s games wind down, Trove Thursday’s are just beginning with settings of L’Olimpiade, an important Metastasio libretto, by Giovanni Pergolesi and Domenico Cimarosa, both featuring gold-medal mezzo Anna Bonitatibus.

Leap of faith Leap of faith

Happy 64th birthday today or possibly tomorrow to actress and singer Faith Prince.

That’s my weakness now That’s my weakness now

Born on this day in 1904 songstress Helen Kane.

The curious case of Benjamin Bernheim The curious case of Benjamin Bernheim

Who’s been hiding tenor Benjamin Bernheim from me all this time?

Round Table discussion Round Table discussion

Like many composers of his generation, Ernest Chausson was enthralled by Wagner and he too turned to legend for his only opera, one that would consume him for final decade of his brief life.

Orchid in the moonlight Orchid in the moonlight

Born on this day in 1904 actress Dolores del Rio.

Tannhäuser Tannhäuser

Tobias Kratzer’s “novel… wrenching” (New York Times) 2019 production of Tannhäuser as a wildly contemporary parable of art and freedom.

Say, what’s that man doing in my drawers? Say, what’s that man doing in my drawers?

Born on this day in 1905 actress Myrna Loy.