Capriccio Capriccio

Starring Renée Fleming, Sarah Connolly, Joseph Kaiser, Russell Braun, Morten Frank Larsen, and Peter Rose, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Production by John Cox. From April 23, 2011.

Rotten, yet covered with roses Rotten, yet covered with roses

On this day day in 1970, the Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Charles Strouse / Lee Adams musical Applause opened at the Palace Theatre, to run 896 performances. Lauren Bacall starred as Margo Channing.

Lois Kirschenbaum 1933-2021 Lois Kirschenbaum 1933-2021

We all lost a great champion of the arts as news arrived that Lois Kirschenbaum passed away on 27 March at the Beth Israel hospital.

Jessye Norman, Live from Lincoln Center Jessye Norman, Live from Lincoln Center

From 1994, the legendary Jessye Norman portrays an evening of operatic heroines, with pioneering conductor Dame Jane Glover and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

I can hold my head up high I can hold my head up high

Born on this day in 1918 actress and singer Pearl Bailey.

Der Fliegende Holländer Der Fliegende Holländer

Starring Anja Kampe, Mihoko Fujimura, Sergey Skorokhodov, David Portillo, Evgeny Nikitin, and Franz-Josef Selig, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Production by François Girard. From March 10, 2020.

Something here inside cannot be denied Something here inside cannot be denied

Born on this day in 1921 actor Dirk Bogarde.

Don Giovanni Don Giovanni

Starring Renée Fleming, Solveig Kringelborn, Hei-Kyung Hong, Paul Groves, Bryn Terfel, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Sergei Koptchak, conducted by James Levine. Production by Franco Zeffirelli. From October 14, 2000.

Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung

Tenor Daniel Brenna reprises his portrayal of Siegfried opposite a luminous Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde and alongside bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, bass Andrea Silvestrelli, soprano Melissa Citro, baritone Brian Mulligan, and bass-baritone Falk Struckmann.

Beauty and the ‘Bis’ Beauty and the ‘Bis’

Maria José Siri gives a historic encore performance of the aria “Io son l’umile ancella” during the March 25 performance of Adriana Lecouvreur at the Ópera de Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

The lion’s bride The lion’s bride

Born on this day in 1899 actress, producer and entrepreneuse Gloria Swanson.

Idomeneo Idomeneo

Starring Hildegard Behrens, Ileana Cotrubas, Frederica von Stade, Luciano Pavarotti, and John Alexander, conducted by James Levine. Production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. From November 6, 1982.

The greatest star The greatest star

On this day in 1964 the Jule StyneBob Merrill musical Funny Girl opened on Broadway.

Elektra Elektra

Starring Nina Stemme, Adrianne Pieczonka, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Production by Patrice Chéreau. From April 30, 2016.

Grand design Grand design

Trove Thursday offers Offenbach’s delightful La Grande-duchesse de Gérolstein featuring Jennie Tourel, Laurel Hurley and Martial Singher, led by Arnold Gamson.

Forever begins Forever begins

Born on this day in 1910 soprano Magda Olivero.

Iphigénie en Tauride Iphigénie en Tauride

Starring Susan Graham, Plácido Domingo, Paul Groves, and Gordon Hawkins, conducted by Patrick Summers. Production by Stephen Wadsworth. From February 26, 2011.

Ariane et Barbe-Bleue Ariane et Barbe-Bleue

The Paul Dukas rarity, performed by the Opéra de Lyon.

High ‘Society’ High ‘Society’

Off-and-on since last fall my PPP (Personal Pandemic Project) has been assembling a chronology of the American Opera Society. For 19 years beginning in 1951 it presented a remarkable series of concert performances of works unperformed by either the Met or New York City Opera.

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.