Gemma di Vergy
With the lovely, largely now forgotten Adriana Maliponte in the title role.
Recent Stories
La Divina
Left this world on this day 43 years ago in Paris.
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).
Le Comte Ory
Starring Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Flórez; conducted by Maurizio Benini. From April 9, 2011.
Il Giuramento
The operas of Saverio Mercadante are often said to be among those 19th century Italian works most worthy of revival; in case you’ve never heard one, judge for yourself with a 1974 broadcast of his best-known work, Il Giuramento, with Annabelle Bernard, Agnes Baltsa, José Carreras and Robert Kerns.
When you’re smiling
Born on this day in 1945 soprano Jessye Norman.
Don Pasquale
Starring Anna Netrebko, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien and John Del Carlo; conducted by James Levine. From November 13, 2010.
Something close to cultishness
Over the course of 700 pages, Alex Ross exhaustively—and sometimes exhaustingly—examines an impact that began in the Wagner’s own lifetime and continues unbroken today, with references cropping up in contemporary works as different as The Matrix and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
La Vestale
“Several prima donnas have sought to resurrect La Vestale, including Renata Scotto.”
Faded ink
On this day in 1954 Britten’s Turn of the Screw premiered in Venice.
Werther
Starring Lisette Oropesa, Sophie Koch, Jonas Kaufmann, David Bizic and Jonathan Summers, conducted by Alain Altinoglu. From March 15, 2014.
If I couldn’t laugh, I’d rather die
Born on this day in 1903 actress Claudette Colbert.
Dreaming a world
Fueled by a fierce intelligence, deep earnestness, exceptional eloquence, and social media savvy, Joyce DiDonato is a presence and a power, as much when speaking and thinking as when singing. Who better to imagine a program that would suit this (we hope) unique moment?
Joyce DiDonato Live in Concert
“American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato sings a program of alluring and acrobatic arias, accompanied by piano and chamber ensemble, in a unique venue—the converted Jahrhunderthalle in Germany’s Ruhr area.”
Funky Broadway
On this day in 1866 the Broadway musical was born. Sort of.
Les Pêcheurs de Perles
Starring Diana Damrau, Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien and Nicolas Testé, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. From January 16, 2016.
Wizard
Born on this day in day in 1995 1895 composer Herbert Stothart.
La Dame Blanche
Renée Fleming takes on the title role of Boieldieu’s La Dame Blanche with Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall.
Cendrillon
Starring Kathleen Kim, Joyce DiDonato, Alice Coote and Stephanie Blythe; conducted by Bertrand de Billy. Transmitted live on April 28, 2018.
To seek and find
The candor of some aspects of Now, Voyager—which at times can feel fairly formulaic—has moments that are truly startling, and there is something surprisingly modern and frank in the not-entirely-fulfilling concluding moments.
Hérodiade
“Trove Thursday” presents the late great Belgian mezzo Rita Gorr parenting Régine Crespin.
Music, give us hope
It was hard for me not to get choked up, watching two of AVA’s most promising young graduates having to make this opportunity for themselves, and doing it with such palpable good humor.
Five years later
Trove Thursday began on September 10, 2015, so today we celebrate the podcast’s fifth birthday with a diva-starry Aïda double-bill: Galina Vishnevskaya vies for her soldier-hero with Irina Arkhipova, then Jessye Norman wins the guy (but loses her life) in spite of Mignon Dunn.
Infection
Tonight’s performance of Don Carlo at the Bolshoi Opera has been canceled because bass Ildar Abdrazakov has tested positive for COVID-19.