Drown a frown with a smile
Born on this day in 1906 actress Janet Gaynor.
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Boris Godunov
Bass René Pape, the world’s reigning Boris, reprises his overwhelming portrayal of the tortured tsar caught between grasping ambition and crippling paranoia. The original 1869 version runs two-and-a-quarter hours with no intermission.
Lady willpower
Hie thee hither to the Lyric Opera House!
How gentle is the rain
Born on this day in 1907 novelty singer Mrs. Miller.
La Cenerentola
Assuming Facebook and Instagram will remain inaccessible through the evening, here’s something to amuse you meantimes: La Cenerentola from the Teatro Real in Madrid.
Do I hear a Waltz?
Happy 65th birthday actor Christoph Waltz.
“If I had my will I would live in a ship on the sea”
Born on this day in 1858 actress Eleonora Duse.
Hate-watch
I can’t imagine anyone watching this two-hour schlockfest at home and then dropping $150 for the privilege to see it again, masked and in an uncomfortable chair.
Nerone
This rare performance of Arrigo Boito‘s sprawling Roman epic was recorded at the Bregenz Festival in July 2021.
Rex education
Happy 83rd birthday to critic and occasional performer Rex Reed.
Great balls of ‘Fire’
The Met’s premiere of Terence Blanchard‘s Fire Shut Up in My Bones dominated the top ten list of most popular articles on parterre box in September.
The medley lingers on
Happy 86th birthday actress and songstress Julie Andrews!
No country for gold men
Trove Thursday offers two very different live recordings of Halévy’s grand opera La Juive.
To Pav and Pav Not
On this day in 1996 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Andrea Chénier.
The sonic clash never resolves itself
The cabaret at Saint Ann’s Warehouse delivered frothy fun and a dollop of pathos with Anthony Roth Costanzo and Justin Vivian Bond in Only an Octave Apart.
A wig and a prayer
A snarky commentator might dub last night at the Met “Boris of the divo hair flip” but that would do a disservice to a serious, often effective performance of the challenging original version of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece.
The people’s courtesan
On this day in 2003 the Metropolitan Opera opened with a revival of La traviata featuring Renée Fleming as Violetta.
Playing with ‘Fire’
With composer Terence Blanchard and librettist Kasi Lemmons‘ incendiary Fire Shut Up in My Bones, the Met makes long overdue history and Will Liverman ascends to superstardom.
The brew that is true
This is an exuberant, uplifting, and joyous Elisir, and, for once, it was actually laugh-out-loud funny.
Talk to the animals
Happy 87th birthday to actress, singer and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot.
Fire Shut Up in My Bones
The Metropolitan Opera’s opening night for 2021 features the the historic company premiere of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones.
Ghost in the machine
On this day in 2010, the Metropolitan Opera opened with a new production of Das Rheingold.
Royalty
On this day in 1983 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a revival of Les Troyens featuring the company debut of Jessye Norman.
Hello, Dolora!
On this day in 1989 General Manager Hugh Southern (not pictured) celebrated his only opening night (he resigned in May 1990).