Dragoon race
Jamie Barton makes her highly-anticipated debut as Carmen opposite the legendary Stephanie Blythe as her alter ego Blythely Oratonio. As Don José!
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Selling the drama
Though the formal recorded aria recital is the ultimate calling card of an artist, the invitation to the spectator to receive, listen, and critically behold of the offerings (on fire or burnt), they are but a souvenir and there are a few drawbacks inherent with the presentation.
“I’m all over the place”
Born on this day in 1949 actress Meryl Streep.
The Exterminating Angel
Starring Audrey Luna, Amanda Echalaz, Sally Matthews, Sophie Bevan, Alice Coote, Christine Rice, Iestyn Davies, Joseph Kaiser, Frédéric Antoun, David Portillo, David Adam Moore, Rod Gilfry, Kevin Burdette, Christian Van Horn, and Sir John Tomlinson, conducted by Thomas Adès. Production by Tom Cairns. From November 18, 2017.
Crossroads
When LA Opera finally decided to put a toe in the water and mount its first production since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was Igor Stravinsky‘s opera/oratorio Oedipus Rex.
Skyscrapers marching on
If you have not been following the exploits of Teatro Grattacielo during lockdown, it’s not because they haven’t been exploitatory all over the place.
“Publicity can be terrible”
Born on this day in 1921 actress and singer Jane Russell.
Gianna Rolandi 1952-2021
American soprano Gianna Rolandi died Sunday morning, according to a number of her friends and colleagues. She was 68.
Luisa Miller
Starring Renata Scotto, P____ D_____, Sherrill Milnes, Bonaldo Giaiotti, and James Morris, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by Nathaniel Merrill. From January 20, 1979.
The other woman
Born on this day in 1911 actress and television producer Gail Patrick.
Don Carlo
Starring Marina Poplavskaya, Anna Smirnova, Roberto Alagna, Simon Keenlyside, Ferruccio Furlanetto, and Eric Halfvarson, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Production by Nicholas Hytner. From December 11, 2010.
Aida
Leontyne Price is joined by the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry in her radio debut as the Princess Amneris. Carlo Bergonzi sings the role of Radamès and Robert Merrill is Amonasro. Thomas Schippers conducts.
A little air of mystery
Born on this day in 1921 actor Louis Jourdan.
Rigoletto
Starring Christiane Eda-Pierre, Isola Jones, Luciano Pavarotti, Louis Quilico, and Ara Berberian, conducted by J____ L_____. Production by John Dexter. From December 15, 1981.
I love a parade
Born on this day in 1903 actress and singer Jeanette MacDonald.
Idomeneo
Starring Elza van den Heever, Nadine Sierra, Alice Coote, Matthew Polenzani, and Alan Opie, conducted by James Levine. Production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. From March 25, 2017.
Two by two
Were Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne 20th century opera’s ultimate same-sex pairing?
King of the Underworld
Happy 90th birthday mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn.
La Traviata
Starring Natalie Dessay, Matthew Polenzani and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Fabio Luisi. Production by Willy Decker. From April 14, 2012.
Storm at sea
Born on this day in 1899 soprano Helen Traubel.
Die Walküre
Starring Christine Goerke, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jamie Barton, Stuart Skelton, Greer Grimsley, and Günther Groissböck, conducted by Philippe Jordan. Production by Robert Lepage. From March 30, 2019.
It ain’t necessary
Born on this day in 1894 composer and arranger/orchestrator Robert Russell Bennett.
Telling the world we are not invisible
Director Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights has come around at exactly the right moment.
Here’s to us!
Born on this day in 1929 composer Seymour Kaufman (better known as Cy Coleman).