Things that are just a little more glamorous Things that are just a little more glamorous

Happy 82nd birthday to designer Bob Mackie.

La Damnation de Faust La Damnation de Faust

Starring Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani, and John Relyea, conducted by James Levine. Production by Robert Lepage. From November 22, 2008.

The vanities of the divas The vanities of the divas

Maria Callas and Montserrat Caballé are two of the most highly-regarded and esteemed exponents of the great soprano roles in both bel canto and in the operas of Verdi, and their recordings are held as artistic triumphs of the highest order.

I can be very objectionable I can be very objectionable

Born on this day in 1904 definitive film star Joan Crawford.

Orfeo ed Euridice Orfeo ed Euridice

Starring Danielle de Niese, Heidi Grant Murphy, and Stephanie Blythe, conducted by James Levine. Production by Mark Morris. From January 24, 2009.

When a Met loves a woman When a Met loves a woman

The Met recently submitted another eye-roll inducing entry for the Woke Olympics with their Women’s History Month slate.

A blessing and a curse A blessing and a curse

Born on this day in 1912, the protean Martha Mödl.

Agrippina Agrippina

Starring Brenda Rae, Joyce DiDonato, Kate Lindsey, Iestyn Davies, Duncan Rock, and Matthew Rose, conducted by Harry Bicket. Production by Sir David McVicar. From February 29, 2020.

Curtain! Fast music! Light! Curtain! Fast music! Light!

Born on this day in 1867 impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.

Der Rosenkavalier Der Rosenkavalier

From the Bayerische Staatsoper, Vladimir Jurowski conducts a new production by Barrie Kosky.

Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin

Starring Renée Fleming, Ramón Vargas, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Production by Robert Carsen. From February 24, 2007.

Siegfried Siegfried

Francesca Zambello directs and Sir Donald Runnicles conducts the all-star cast including Daniel Brenna, Greer Grimsley, Iréne Theorin, Ronnita Miller and David Cangelosi.

It might as well be spring It might as well be spring

Happy vernal equinox!

Il Barbiere di Siviglia Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Starring Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, Peter Mattei, John Del Carlo, and John Relyea, conducted by Maurizio Benini. Production by Bartlett Sher. From March 24, 2007.

I’ll have to say I love you in a song I’ll have to say I love you in a song

Starting March 19, Vocal Arts DC’s latest virtual concert lavishes listeners with a sumptuous recital of art songs from the Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen.

Scheme a little scheme Scheme a little scheme

Happy 74th birthday to actress Glenn Close.

Akhnaten Akhnaten

Starring Dísella Lárusdóttir, J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Aaron Blake, Will Liverman, Richard Bernstein, and Zachary James, conducted by Karen Kamensek. Production by Phelim McDermott. From November 23, 2019.

Dies irae, dies illa Dies irae, dies illa

Trove Thursday offers Mozart’s Requiem with Lucia Popp, Christa Ludwig, Peter Schreier and Walter Berry conducted by James Levine from the 1981 Salzburg Festival.

You maid me love you You maid me love you

On this day in 1963, the musical Tovarich opened at the Broadway Theatre, starring Vivien Leigh and Jean Pierre Aumont.

The skills to pay the bills The skills to pay the bills

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra has accepted a deal to receive bridge pay in return for returning to the bargaining table.

Anna Bolena Anna Bolena

Starring Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova, Tamara Mumford, Stephen Costello, and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by Marco Armiliato. Production by Sir David McVicar. From October 15, 2011.

James Levine 1943-2021 James Levine 1943-2021

The conductor and former music director of the Metropolitan Opera died on March 9.

“A vocal artist out of the ordinary” “A vocal artist out of the ordinary”

On this day in 1951 soprano Victoria de los Angeles made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Marguerite.

Rigoletto Rigoletto

From the Vienna State Opera: Evelino Pidò leads Carlos Álvarez, Juan Diego Flórez and Olga Peretyatko.