Transcendental Transcendental

Happy 83rd birthday soprano Gundula Janowitz.

Ernani Ernani

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

Renée Fleming Live in Concert Renée Fleming Live in Concert

The Undiva cuts loose at Dumbarton Oaks.

Here you come again Here you come again

By this point in 2020, nothing should surprise us.

How deep is your love How deep is your love

Born on this day in 1921 contralto Lili Chookasian.

Rusalka Rusalka

Starring Kristine Opolais, Katarina Dalayman, Jamie Barton, Brandon Jovanovich and Eric Owens, conducted by Mark Elder. From February 25, 2017.

Il trovatore: replay Il trovatore: replay

Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From April 30, 2011.

On the wings of Eagels On the wings of Eagels

It’s the legendary Jeanne Eagels in the spotlight, which is exactly the right term. From our first glimpse of her fabulous face, she seems almost lit from within.

And it was grand And it was grand

On this day in 1967 Judy Garland opened her final Broadway engagement, a concert entitled At Home at the Palace.

Fairies at the bottom of our Wagner Fairies at the bottom of our Wagner

Ordinarily we’d be listening to Bayreuth Festival broadcasts this week but instead Trove Thursday steps up with a true Wagner rarity: Die Feen from the Wiener Staatsoper starring as Ada, the fairy in love with a mortal, Gundula Janowitz, who turns 83 on Sunday.

Extra added attraction Extra added attraction

On this day in 1963, Barbra Streisand sang at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas… opening for Liberace.

“Why is everything wrong?” “Why is everything wrong?”

“The shimmery, creamy voice of the ‘undiva,’ as she is known, is ingrained in America’s cultural memory, at both sad and happy moments.”

Rigoletto Rigoletto

Starring Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Levine. From November 7, 1977.

It started in Naples It started in Naples

The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli’s lavish outdoor concert series continues with Aida featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Anita Rachvelishvili.

So tears run to a predestined end So tears run to a predestined end

Born on this day in 1876 actress and pedagogue Maria Ouspenskaya.

Tosca Tosca

Starring Karita Mattila, Marcelo Álvarez and George Gagnidze, conducted by Joseph Colaneri. From October 10, 2009.

Concerto macabre Concerto macabre

Born on this day in 1913 actor Laird Cregar.

Lucia di Lammermoor Lucia di Lammermoor

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

Mattila, two ways Mattila, two ways

“I have almost forgotten what it felt like to sit in a velvet seat at the Met, surrounded by people coughing.”

Even her agony was a kind of joy Even her agony was a kind of joy

I’ve heard admirers for years describe this as their favorite Bette Davis performance, and it’s easy to see why; she brings her entire range to the role, and you can’t take your eyes off her.

Eighty carrots Eighty carrots

On this day in 1940 Bugs Bunny made his film debut A Wild Hare, directed by Tex Avery.

La fanciulla del West La fanciulla del West

Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jonas Kaufmann and Zeljko Lucic, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From October 27, 2018.

Mourning Becomes Electra Mourning Becomes Electra

Lauren Flanigan and Rayanne Dupuis star in this 2013 revival of Marvin David Levy‘s tragic opera.

“I don’t want to be a star” “I don’t want to be a star”

Born on this day in 1909 actress and chanteuse Vivian Vance.