A reasonable amount of trouble
On this day in 1941, The Maltese Falcon premiered in New York City.
Recent Stories
Don Giovanni
The last Don Giovanni telecast this year, cher public, as God is La Cieca’s witness. Starring Marina Rebeka, Barbara Frittoli, Mojca Erdmann, Ramón Vargas, Mariusz Kwiecien, Luca Pisaroni, and Stefan Kocan, conducted by Fabio Luisi. From October 29, 2011.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
A stag at bay
Born on this day in 1890 comic genius Groucho Marx.
COVID fan tutte
As a change of pace, let’s scope out the Finnish National Opera’s revision of Così fan tutte as a topical comedy about the current pandemic. Streaming and discussion begin at 7:30 PM.
Truth or dare
On the 21st of this month Romanian soprano Virginia Zeani will celebrate her 95th birthday and Trove Thursday salutes her versatility with two markedly different 20th century works: Menotti’s The Consul and Mascagni’s Il Piccolo Marat, one of many collaborations with her husband Nicola Rossi-Lemeni.
Practically perennial
Happy 85th birthday Dame Julie Andrews.
La clemenza di Tito
Starring Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elina Garanca, Kate Lindsey, Giuseppe Filianoti and Oren Gradus, conducted by Harry Bicket. From December 1, 2012.
It isn’t surprising
On this day in 1933, the revue As Thousands Cheer (book by Moss Hart, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin) opened at the Music Box Theatre, to run 400 performances.
Così fan tutte
Starring Susanna Phillips, Isabel Leonard, Danielle de Niese, Matthew Polenzani, Rodion Pogossov and Maurizio Muraro, conducted by James Levine. From April 26, 2014.
Fit for a queen
Born on this day in 1942 singer and actress Madeline Kahn.
Le Nozze di Figaro
Starring Amanda Majeski, Marlis Petersen, Isabel Leonard, Peter Mattei and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by James Levine. From October 18, 2014.
Pompiere and circumstance
On this day in 1988, the fire effects in the Judgment Scene from Aida at the Met got a little out of control.
La bohème
Starring Angela Gheorghiu, Ainhoa Arteta, Ramón Vargas, Ludovic Tézier, Quinn Kelsey, Oren Gradus and Paul Plishka, conducted by Nicola Luisotti. From April 5, 2008.
Maria Stuarda
David Alden directs Diana Damrau in Donizetti’s melodrama.
Flaming youth
Born on this day in 1923 actress and singer Mary McCarty.
Turandot
Starring Christine Goerke, Eleonora Buratto, Yusif Eyvazov and James Morris, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. From October 12, 2019.
A life in the theater
While I’d stop short of calling All About Eve a camp classic, it holds an undeniable and lasting interest for gay viewers.
Boris Godunov
Barrie Kosky directs Michael Volle in this livestream from Zürich Opera.
Now you say you’re lonely
Born on this day in 1926 songstress Julie London.
Tosca
Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo and Zeljko Lucic, conducted by Emmanuel Villaume. From January 27, 2018.
After the ball
On this day in 1928, Rodgers and Hart’s flop musical Chee-Chee (it’s about eunuchs) opened on Broadway.
Die Csárdásfürstin
Annette Dasch and Pavol Breslik star in Emmerich Kálmán’s operetta in a livestream from Zürich Opera.
Baritone day!
Born on this day baritones Cornell MacNeil, Ettore Bastianini (both in 1922) and Pablo Elvira (1938).