Pirate Jenny
Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Lotte Lenya.
Recent Stories
The love goddess
Born on this day in 1918 actress Rita Hayworth.
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).
I don’t want to know
Happy 96th birthday to actress and treasure Dame Angela Lansbury.
Some people ain’t me!
Happy 84th birthday actress Linda Lavin.
Lehman’s terms
The Lehman Trilogy had me in its thrall from the moment the lights went up. It’s absolutely spellbinding. That’s not to say I endorse it wholeheartedly, though.
Emperor concerto
The fifth annual edition of Trove Thursday’s “Handel for my Birthday” actually falls on the very day this year, and there are few broadcasts I love more than the 1972 BBC Tamerlano starring the greatest Janet Baker along with Norma Burrowes, Patricia Kern, Maureen Lehane and Alexander Young.
Turandot doesn’t exist
It’s back to business as usual at the Met, for better and for worse.
“Do they criticize me?”
Born on this day in 1893 actress Lillian Gish.
Aller-retour
Born on this day in 1932 actress, dancer and singer Liliane Montevecchi.
Turandot
Christine Goerke and Yusif Eyvazov star in a live broadcast from the Met.
Broadway baby
Happy 53rd birthday to actress, comedian and singer Jane Krakowski.
The battle rages on
Born on this day composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813) and soprano Leyla Gencer (1924).
Jenufa
Asmik Grigorian as Jenufa in her Covent Garden debut and Karita Mattila as the Kostelnicka lead a star cast with conductor Henrik Nánási.
Copper, won’t you dance with me?
On this day in 1947 High Button Shoes opened at the Century Theatre, to run 727 performances.
Jazzing around and painting the town
Born on this day in 1880 singer and vaudevillian Nora Bayes.
Riddle me this
Turandot finally arrives on Trove Thursday, but it’s the setting by Ferruccio Busoni which predates by a decade the one by that other Italian guy, and it’s paired today with Arlecchino, the composer’s other commedia dell’arte-influenced short opera.
Infused with individuality
On this day in 1965 mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Eboli.
Drown a frown with a smile
Born on this day in 1906 actress Janet Gaynor.
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.