Kid power
On this day in 1893 Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel premiered in Weimar.
Recent Stories
“Art is a kind of illness”
Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini.
Quicksilver
Happy 84th birthday to actress, political activist, environmentalist, and former fashion model Jane Fonda.
Every little thing she does is magic
A good time seemed to be had by all though I don’t recall seeing a single child in attendance.
La Serenata
Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Irene Dunne.
The Magic Flute
“The Met’s abridged, English-language version of Mozart’s magical fairy tale is a classic holiday treat for audiences of all ages.”
Grande dame
Born on this day in 1888 actress Gladys Cooper.
Cinderella
Presented with an all-new English translation in an abridged 90 minutes, with mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as its rags-to-riches princess.
Endearing gifts
Since my previous CD round-up review the onslaught of solo recital disks of 18th century (and sometimes also 17th) vocal music has continued unabated.
I’m not a joke guy
Born on this day in 1946 actor, director and screenwriter Eugene Levy.
She’s here
Born on this day in 1961 Broadway (and elsewhere) diva LaChanze.
The Battle of Carnegie Hall
Trove Thursday sneaks in one more OONY offering before 2021 ends: Verdi’s rare La Battaglia di Legnano from 1987 with Aprile Millo, Mario Malagnini, and Matteo Manuguerra.
Four boys to dance with
On this day in 1952 Bette Davis headlined the opening night of the Broadway revue Two’s Company.
Everything new is old again
I see in Kimberly Akimbo an audacious idea, once unthinkable territory for a musical, which is realized through a highly imaginative and often unpredictable use of song and especially open-ended ensemble writing.
“Too sexy for Italy”
Born on this day in 1932 songstress Abbe Lane.
Star quality
The 1990s effectively signaled a new phase in Edita Gruberova‘s career with her undertaking more demanding, heavier roles, while still essaying Zerbinetta and Lucia.
Low down
Born on this day in 1910 songstress Lillian Roth.
“Everybody is nothing until you love them”
On this day in 1955 the film The Rose Tattoo premiered in New York City.
Tosca
Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Sondra Radvanovsky (Tosca), Brian Jagde (Cavaradossi), George Gagnidze (Scarpia) and Patrick Carfizzi (Sacristan).
“Life is a song – sing it!”
Happy 90th birthday actress and singer Rita Moreno.
The Magic Flute
“Rolando Villazón makes an exciting role debut as the lovable lout Papageno.”
First offense
Born on this day in 1903 actress Una Merkel.
Sorry/Ungrateful
Katrina Lenk’s Bobbie dutifully channels an assertive, contemporary, sexually confident female persona, but it doesn’t feel fully realized or convincing.
The key of dreams
My sister Julie celebrates an important birthday later this month which reminded me—as I also recalled I visiting her while she was living in Prague—that I should unearth Bohuslav Martin?’s Julietta with Lucia Popp and Dénes Gulyás for this week’s Trove Thursday.