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Born on this day in 1921 contralto Lili Chookasian.
Starring Kristine Opolais, Katarina Dalayman, Jamie Barton, Brandon Jovanovich and Eric Owens, conducted by Mark Elder. From February 25, 2017.
Starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo Álvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From April 30, 2011.
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.
On this day in 1967 Judy Garland opened her final Broadway engagement, a concert entitled At Home at the Palace.
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.
On this day in 1963, Barbra Streisand sang at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas… opening for Liberace.
“The shimmery, creamy voice of the ‘undiva,’ as she is known, is ingrained in America’s cultural memory, at both sad and happy moments.”
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Kathryn the great
Kathryn the great
Parterre Box previews Kathryn Lewek‘s upcoming Salome with clips of her as another unhinged lady of antiquity.
Parterre Box previews Kathryn Lewek‘s upcoming Salome with clips of her as another unhinged lady of antiquity.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Count your blessings
Count your blessings
Fast-rising Verdi baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbataar is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Fast-rising Verdi baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbataar is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
One man’s Junker
One man’s Junker
Handel’s Deidamia — and one of its current champions, soprano Sophie Junker — are the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Handel’s Deidamia — and one of its current champions, soprano Sophie Junker — are the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Don’t cry because it’s over
Don’t cry because it’s over
Grand Tier Grab Bag hearkens back to the days when Sondra Radvanovsky — who is singing no Verdi at all next season — seemed like the Verdi soprano of reference.
Grand Tier Grab Bag hearkens back to the days when Sondra Radvanovsky — who is singing no Verdi at all next season — seemed like the Verdi soprano of reference.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Rizzin’ to the occasion
Rizzin’ to the occasion
Parterre Box features the Met’s current Eugene Onegin, Iurii Samoilov, in a performance of Rossini ahead of a return to Pesaro this summer.
Parterre Box features the Met’s current Eugene Onegin, Iurii Samoilov, in a performance of Rossini ahead of a return to Pesaro this summer.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
When they go low
When they go low
Nostalgic for bass month, Parterre Box offers excerpts from two young basses to watch: Giorgi Manoshvili and Patrick Guetti.
Nostalgic for bass month, Parterre Box offers excerpts from two young basses to watch: Giorgi Manoshvili and Patrick Guetti.
Starring Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Levine. From November 7, 1977.
The Teatro San Carlo di Napoli’s lavish outdoor concert series continues with Aida featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Anita Rachvelishvili.
Born on this day in 1876 actress and pedagogue Maria Ouspenskaya.
Starring Karita Mattila, Marcelo Álvarez and George Gagnidze, conducted by Joseph Colaneri. From October 10, 2009.
Born on this day in 1913 actor Laird Cregar.
Starring Natalie Dessay, Joseph Calleja, Ludovic Tézier and Kwangchul Youn, conducted by Patrick Summers. From March 19, 2011.
“I have almost forgotten what it felt like to sit in a velvet seat at the Met, surrounded by people coughing.”
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.
Talk of the Town
The Talk of the Town
Maria Kanyova should make it to the Met
Maria Kanyova should make it to the Met
I’m surprised that American soprano Maria Kanyova has never performed at the Met, even though she has loads of high-profile U.S. opera credits.
I’m surprised that American soprano Maria Kanyova has never performed at the Met, even though she has loads of high-profile U.S. opera credits.
The Talk of the Town
Barbara Hannigan should make it to the Met
Barbara Hannigan should make it to the Met
The fact that Barbara Hannigan has never performed at The Metropolitan Opera is just plain dumb.
The fact that Barbara Hannigan has never performed at The Metropolitan Opera is just plain dumb.
The Talk of the Town
Robert Rounseville should have made it to the Met
Robert Rounseville should have made it to the Met
From one Mister Snow to another, I salute him.
From one Mister Snow to another, I salute him.
The Talk of the Town
Denise Duval should have made it to the Met
Denise Duval should have made it to the Met
I decided I’d take ‘never made it to the Met’ as an excuse to submit a post about why French soprano Denise Duval (1921-2015) is special to me.
I decided I’d take ‘never made it to the Met’ as an excuse to submit a post about why French soprano Denise Duval (1921-2015) is special to me.
The Talk of the Town
A favorite Verdi performance from Eli Jacobson
A favorite Verdi performance from Eli Jacobson
The immortal Renata Tebaldi, just about 29 years old as Saint Joan in a RAI broadcast of Giovanna d’Arco from 1951.
The immortal Renata Tebaldi, just about 29 years old as Saint Joan in a RAI broadcast of Giovanna d’Arco from 1951.
On this day in 1940 Bugs Bunny made his film debut A Wild Hare, directed by Tex Avery.
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jonas Kaufmann and Zeljko Lucic, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From October 27, 2018.
Lauren Flanigan and Rayanne Dupuis star in this 2013 revival of Marvin David Levy‘s tragic opera.
Born on this day in 1909 actress and chanteuse Vivian Vance.
Starring Renée Fleming, Christine Schäfer, Susan Graham and Kristinn Sigmundsson, conducted by Edo de Waart. From January 9, 2010.
As previewed earlier this week, Los Angeles Opera presents a Ring marathon this weekend.
Unforgettable Karita Mattila sings under the baton of the late Czech maestro Jirí Belohlávek in this production from San Francisco Opera.
Born on this day in 1894 soprano Yvonne Printemps.
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