A fine romance
Happy 85th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.
Recent Stories
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).
Not so dumb
Born on this day in 1897 actress Marion Davies.
On her toes
Born on this day ballerina and actress Vera Zorina.
Cinderella
The abridged family version of the opera is heard again.
Ancien Régime
Born on this day in 1923 the ineffable Valentina Cortese.
Any old palace
At the heart of this success was Quinn Kelsey’s revelatory take on Rigoletto. He was matched, vocally and dramatically, by Rosa Feola’s Gilda—a tour-de-force performance.
Rigoletto
A gala new production of Verdi’s opera, live from the Met.
Die Fledermaus
Live from the Vienna State Opera with Andreas Schager and Rachel Willis-Sorensen.
The Panic is now on!
Born on this day in 1902 the one and only Tallulah Bankhead.
The newest normal
A nonstop flow of COVID related announcements from New York City performing arts organizations has swept the city the past weeks.
Behind the mask
Un ballo in maschera—but instead of a tragedy, an opera buffa—and in Danish?
Redefining diva
Happy 64th birthday to actress, singer, author and activist Cheryl Lee Ralph.
Conversation piece
The sonic wizards of the Netherlands at Pentatone have released their latest in the series of Maestro Lawrence Foster’s studio opera recordings. Reunited with his Lisbon forces, the Gulbenkian Orquestra and Coro, for a fresh take on Puccini’s three-hanky weeper.
All she wants to do is dance
Born on this day in 1936 actress and producer Mary Tyler Moore.
The people ride in a hole in the ground
On this day in 1944 the Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green musical On the Town premiered on Broadway.
It’s not ’cause she couldn’t
Born on this day in 1901 actress and diseuse Marlene Dietrich.
Tower of Song
On this day in 1830 Donizetti’s Anna Bolena premiered in Milan.
Aida at the Met
Highlights from great Met broadcasts of Verdi’s Aida in celebration of the 90th anniversary of Met broadcasts and the 150th anniversary of Aida.
A Messy Little Christmas
Part vaudeville, part opera concert and part drag ball, Heartbeat Opera’s pageant was like a cup of eggnog spiked with a dash of LSD.
After midnight
The Met’s Cinderella is a charming adaptation of Massenet’s opera. Frothy, fun, and enchanting, it is a magical holiday treat for the whole family to enjoy.
Seen a lot, I mean a lot
On this day in 1940, the wholesome family musical Pal Joey opened on Broadway.
Close as pages in a book
I had no idea whatsoever of the reality of the life of this strong, vibrant woman I had gotten to know, the traumas she suffered; the extent and the horror of her experiences was all very surreal to me.