A touch of the poet A touch of the poet

Born on this day in 1925 actress Kim Stanley.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Starring Kathleen Battle, Rockwell Blake, Leo Nucci, Enzo Dara, and Ferruccio Furlanetto, conducted by Ralf Weikert. Production by John Cox. From December 3, 1988.

La clemenza di Tito La clemenza di Tito

From the Vienna State Opera: Adam Fischer conducts Benjamin Bruns, Caroline Wenborne, Margarita Gritskova, Hila Fahima, Miriam Albano.

“Who I am is the best I can be” “Who I am is the best I can be”

Happy 94th birthday soprano Leontyne Price.

Ernani Ernani

Starring Leona Mitchell, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, and Ruggero Raimondi, conducted by James Levine. Production by Pier Luigi Samaritani. From December 17, 1983.

Bananas is her business Bananas is her business

Born on this day in 1909 samba singer, dancer, Broadway actress and film star Carmen Miranda.

Das Rheingold Das Rheingold

Starring Wendy Bryn Harmer, Stephanie Blythe, Patricia Bardon, Richard Croft, Gerhard Siegel, Dwayne Croft, Bryn Terfel, Eric Owens, Franz-Josef Selig, and Hans-Peter König, conducted by James Levine. Production by Robert Lepage. From October 9, 2010.

Stopping by Philly on a snowy evening Stopping by Philly on a snowy evening

As I don’t need to remind you, we are fast approaching the one-year anniversary of COVID quarantine—and for the arts, it remains a scenario of giveth and taketh away.

Radiant wonder Radiant wonder

Happy 34th birthday to soprano Lise Davidsen!

Tosca Tosca

Starring Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti, and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Conlon. Directed by Tito Gobbi. From December 19, 1978.

Lohengrin Lohengrin

From the San Francisco Opera, starring Brandon Jovanovich, Camilla Nylund, Petra Lang, Gerd Grochowski and Kristinn Sigmundsson, conducted by Nicola Luisotti.

The expansive and the ostentatious The expansive and the ostentatious

Proudly and vividly on display was Anna Netrebko’s unique and glamorous ability to wear the music like a parade of couture gowns—some more sparkly than others, some a more flattering fit, but all thoughtfully chosen and laced into with care.

Debutante Debutante

On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimì.

 Ariadne auf Naxos  Ariadne auf Naxos

Starring Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, Tatiana Troyanos, and James King, conducted by James Levine. Production by Bodo Igesz. From March 12, 1988.

Met Stars in Concert: Anna Netrebko in Vienna Met Stars in Concert: Anna Netrebko in Vienna

Anna Netrebko performs “a program of captivating Russian songs by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Rimsky-Korsakov, as well as selections by Strauss, Debussy, Fauré, and more.” Live from Vienna’s historic Spanish Riding School.

The hero with no vices The hero with no vices

Born on this day in 1899 actor Ramon Novarro.

Remote control Remote control

The Met Orchestra will stream a concert including the virtual participation of Angela Gheorghiu live from Bucharest.

Il pirata Il pirata

From the Teatro San Carlo, featuring Sondra Radvanovsky, Celso Albelo and Luca Salsi, conducted by Antonino Fogliani.

“Sex and I have a lot in common” “Sex and I have a lot in common”

On this day in 1949 the legendary Mae West revived her 1928 play Diamond Lil at the Coronet Theatre, playing (ça va sans dire) the title role.

The boys from Syracuse The boys from Syracuse

Trove Thursday begins February with two striking versions of Rossini’s Tancredi.

The hard way The hard way

Born on this day in 1918 actress, director and producer Ida Lupino.

Dialogues des Carmélites Dialogues des Carmélites

Starring Maria Ewing, Jessye Norman, Betsy Norden, Régine Crespin, and Florence Quivar, conducted by Manuel Rosenthal. Production by John Dexter. From April 4, 1987.

Idomeneo Idomeneo

From the Vienna State Opera, Christoph Eschenbach conducts Michael Schade, Margarita Gritskova, Maria Bengtsson and Chen Reiss.

Wild things leave skins behind them Wild things leave skins behind them

We shared a feeling that writing about The Fugitive Kind was a date with destiny.