Capriccio Capriccio

With Camilla Nylund, Markus Eiche, Michael Schade, Adrian Eröd, Wolfgang Bankl, Angelika Kirchschlager; Michael Boder conducts.

Take a lesson! Take a lesson!

Happy 75th birthday to songstress, actress and producer Bette Midler.

Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin

The Met kicks off “Stars in Signature Roles” week with Renée Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky from February 24, 2007.

La bohème La bohème

Jonas Kaufmann and Rachel Willis-Sørensen star in a staged streaming-only performance from the Bayerische Staatsoper.

I soil easily I soil easily

I have to say I struggle with I Want to Live! The camp appeal of it—including Hayward’s performance—is undeniable… yet it’s also a sincere and even important movie.

I look up and I cry to a big empty sky I look up and I cry to a big empty sky

On this day in 1955, the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein had the rare experience of presenting a flop, the musical Pipe Dream which ran only 246 performances. On the other hand, the show included the definitive “I want” song:

Simon Boccanegra Simon Boccanegra

Starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Plácido Domingo, Vladimir Chernov, and Robert Lloyd, conducted by James Levine. From January 26, 1995.

“I could have been a great many things” “I could have been a great many things”

Born on this day in 1832 writer Louisa May Alcott.

Die Walküre Die Walküre

Starring Christine Goerke, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jamie Barton, Stuart Skelton, Greer Grimsley, and Günther Groissböck, conducted by Philippe Jordan. From March 30, 2019.

Ariodante Ariodante

Continuing its celebration of the operas Handel wrote for Covent Garden, The Royal Opera presents Ariodante in concert.

“I don’t think I ever understood Hollywood” “I don’t think I ever understood Hollywood”

Born on this day in 1923 actress Gloria Grahame.

Lucia di Lammermoor Lucia di Lammermoor

Starring Natalie Dessay, Joseph Calleja, Ludovic Tézier, and Kwangchul Youn, conducted by Patrick Summers. From March 19, 2011.

The mélodie lingers on The mélodie lingers on

Everything’s coming up mélodie! As the pandemic rages on and new lockdowns have thrown large-scale performances into disarray, record labels have been releasing new albums of French art song by the bucketload.

So get in it, begin it! So get in it, begin it!

On this day in 1937 the International Ladies Garment Workers Union presented the union-themed musical revue, Pins and Needles.

Left to your own devices Left to your own devices

La Cieca (pictured) wishes her cher public a sensible and safe “Cyber Monday” shopping experience!

Elektra Elektra

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

Mad and madder Mad and madder

With La Scala’s plan to open on December 7 with a new Lucia di Lammermoor thwarted, Trove Thursday sets its Wayback Machine to nearly 50 years ago to present two of the 20th century’s greatest madwomen—Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills—denounced by Plàcido Domingo and Alfredo Kraus respectively, with the former pair consoled by Kurt Moll‘s luxurious Raimundo.

Thanks anyway Thanks anyway

Happy Thanksgiving to the US contingent of the cher public!

Hamlet Hamlet

Starring Marlis Petersen, Jennifer Larmore, Simon Keenlyside, and James Morris, conducted by Louis Langrée. From March 27, 2010.

‘Tristan’ minus one ‘Tristan’ minus one

Imagine my surprise then when I discovered a new recording of Tristan und Isolde released by Navona Records, a small label based in New Hampshire that primarily focuses on recitals of chamber music, solo works, and smaller ensemble pieces.

Die Frau ohne Schatten Die Frau ohne Schatten

Conductor: Christian Thielemann; Director: Vincent Huguet; With: Stephen Gould, Camilla Nylund, Evelyn Herlitzius, Sebastian Holecek, Wolfgang Koch, Nina Stemme, Maria Nazarova.

“I am yesterday, and today, and tomorrow” “I am yesterday, and today, and tomorrow”

Born on this day in 1900 actress and politician Helen Gahagan Douglas.

Marnie Marnie

Starring Isabel Leonard, Iestyn Davies and Christopher Maltman, conducted by Roberto Spano. From November 10, 2018.

Sonya or later Sonya or later

“The Met Stars Live in Concert performance featuring soprano Sonya Yoncheva, which was rescheduled for this Saturday, November 28, has now been moved to Saturday, February 27, 2021, as Ms. Yoncheva is still ill (with a non-Covid illness).” Thus speaks the Met’s press department.