How deep is your love
Born on this day in 1921 contralto Lili Chookasian.
Recent Stories
Rusalka
Starring Kristine Opolais, Katarina Dalayman, Jamie Barton, Brandon Jovanovich and Eric Owens, conducted by Mark Elder. From February 25, 2017.
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).
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
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
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
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
On this day in 1963, Barbra Streisand sang at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas… opening for Liberace.
“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
Starring Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Levine. From November 7, 1977.
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
Born on this day in 1876 actress and pedagogue Maria Ouspenskaya.
Tosca
Starring Karita Mattila, Marcelo Álvarez and George Gagnidze, conducted by Joseph Colaneri. From October 10, 2009.
Concerto macabre
Born on this day in 1913 actor Laird Cregar.
Lucia di Lammermoor
Starring Natalie Dessay, Joseph Calleja, Ludovic Tézier and Kwangchul Youn, conducted by Patrick Summers. From March 19, 2011.
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
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
On this day in 1940 Bugs Bunny made his film debut A Wild Hare, directed by Tex Avery.
La fanciulla del West
Starring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Jonas Kaufmann and Zeljko Lucic, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From October 27, 2018.
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”
Born on this day in 1909 actress and chanteuse Vivian Vance.
Der Rosenkavalier
Starring Renée Fleming, Christine Schäfer, Susan Graham and Kristinn Sigmundsson, conducted by Edo de Waart. From January 9, 2010.
Der Ring des Nibelungen
As previewed earlier this week, Los Angeles Opera presents a Ring marathon this weekend.
Vec Makropulos
Unforgettable Karita Mattila sings under the baton of the late Czech maestro Jirí Belohlávek in this production from San Francisco Opera.