Turandot Turandot

Starring Nina Stemme, Anita Hartig, Marco Berti and Alexander Tsymbalyuk, conducted by Paolo Carignani. From January 30, 2016.

NYCO, yet again? NYCO, yet again?

New York City Opera (remember them?) have announced a program for spring 2021, with repertoire consistent with the company’s recent policy of equal-opportunity pandering.

A woman under the influence A woman under the influence

Born this day in 1899 director and producer Alfred Hitchcock.

American woman American woman

Trove Thursday presents Alzira—derided by some as Verdi’s worst opera—in a 1968 Carnegie Hall concert with Gianfranco Cecchele, Louis Quilico (star of last night’s Met Rigoletto stream) and Elinor Ross, who died in March at age 93.

Rigoletto Rigoletto

Starring Christiane Eda-Pierre, Isola Jones, Luciano Pavarotti, Louis Quilico and Ara Berberian, conducted by James Levine. From December 15, 1981.

Future indefinite Future indefinite

Are plans for reopening America’s opera houses in the winter of 2020-2021 unrealistic?

“It’s the giant squid!” “It’s the giant squid!”

Born on this day in 1881 filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille.

Carmen Carmen

Starring Aleksandra Kurzak, Clémentine Margaine, Roberto Alagna and Alexander Vinogradov, conducted by Louis Langrée. From February 2, 2019.

Manon Lescaut Manon Lescaut

Starring Karita Mattila, Marcello Giordani and Dwayne Croft, conducted by James Levine. From February 16, 2008.

They took the idols and smashed them They took the idols and smashed them

On this day in 1950, the film Sunset Blvd. opened at Radio City Music Hall.

Hadrian Hadrian

“With its blend of history, political intrigue, and fantastical invention, all woven into a heartbreaking love story, Hadrian gives one of history’s greatest queer romances the full, grand opera treatment.”

Going south Going south

By the end, we have rolling heads, a lot of screaming, and cheap horror too often overwhelms the better instincts of the screenwriters.

“An unusual display of jewels” “An unusual display of jewels”

Another point of etiquette is that a gentleman must never leave the ladies of his own box alone.

Perhaps the great loves come with tears Perhaps the great loves come with tears

Born on this day in 1902 actress Norma Shearer.

La cambiale di matrimonio La cambiale di matrimonio

In order to spare the cher public the agony of sitting through the Met’s Don Giovanni again, La Cieca offers this brand-new video from the Teatro Rossini di Pesaro.

Singing in the reign Singing in the reign

Happy 61st birthday soprano Maria Guleghina!

Agrippina Agrippina

Starring Brenda Rae, Joyce DiDonato, Kate Lindsey, Iestyn Davies, Duncan Rock and Matthew Rose, conducted by Harry Bicket. From February 29, 2020.

Das Rheingold Das Rheingold

Frank Castorf’s staging of the Ring, premiered in 2013 and filmed in 2016, provoked controversy right from the beginning. For Castorf, the Rheingold of our days is oil; thus he places the first part of the tetralogy at a gas station on Route 66.

Grand tour Grand tour

Happy birthday tenor Bryan Hymel.

Parsifal Parsifal

Starring Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Bernd Weikl and Kurt Moll, conducted by James Levine. From March 28, 1992.

Unless you are a cheese Unless you are a cheese

Born on this day in 1884 actress and singer Billie Burke.

Madama Butterfly Madama Butterfly

Starring Kristine Opolais, Maria Zifchak, Roberto Alagna and Dwayne Croft, conducted by Karel Mark Chichon. From April 2, 2016.

Poisons of interest Poisons of interest

Trove Thursday uncovered two broadcasts of Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia that share a fascinating nexus: in each an enduring superstar tenor—José Carreras/Alfredo Kraus—is poisoned by a soon-to-vanish rising-star soprano—Vasso Papantoniou/Margarita Castro-Alberty.

A pride of Leos A pride of Leos

Born on this day in 1619 soprano Barbara Strozzi.