“Even when we speak it is musical” “Even when we speak it is musical”

Born on this day in 1935 soprano Mirella Freni.

She ain’t down yet She ain’t down yet

The fabulous Beth Malone is the Molly Brown of my dreams—forthright, bold, and a superbly gifted singer with just the right touch of country twang.

Castles made of sand Castles made of sand

Jakub Józef Orlinski‘s “Stille amare” packed a lot of punch in terms of dramatic intensity.

To think of shadows To think of shadows

Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.

Look what happened to “Mabel” Look what happened to “Mabel”

Time heals almost everything, as Jerry Herman’s best score is stylishly resurrected.

Skeleton key Skeleton key

Original Director Richard Jones and revival director Benjamin Davis have created a staging that veers wildly between fascinating and fatally flawed.

Madrid 86es Domingo Madrid 86es Domingo

“I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I have grown from this experience.”

Roberto dangerously Roberto dangerously

For those of you keeping track at home that’s four substitutions for three roles and the curtain hasn’t even gone up yet.

Roz’s turn Roz’s turn

On this day in 1953 Rosalind Russell topped the bill on the opening night of Wonderful Town, with a score by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

Another version of the sleuth Another version of the sleuth

Opera for families may not generally be my thing, but I loved feeling like I was a tiny part of shaping a new opera.

More than a diva More than a diva

Happy 86th Birthday soprano Renata Scotto.

The perfect match The perfect match

If only she’d been able to sing more than 10 minutes of Bjork’s music!

The grand manner The grand manner

Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

Believe it or not, it’s the final Nozze of the Met’s 2019-2020 season.

After the parade After the parade

Dolly definitely did not have me at Hello!

Beautiful ghost Beautiful ghost

Born on this day in 1930 soprano and film “ghost” singer Marni Nixon.

Happy birthday Christine Ebersole! Happy birthday Christine Ebersole!

The actress and songstress is 67 today! Born on this day in 1907 librettist and poet W H Auden.

Iconography Iconography

“American soprano Renée Fleming, one of the most beloved and celebrated singers of our time, is donating her personal archives to Juilliard, her alma mater.”

Advent Advent

Big news on two fronts!

A new meadow to wander in A new meadow to wander in

Over the past two decades, the understatedly beguiling Sasha Cooke has inched chronologically inwards in her subtle conquest of swathes of mezzo concert repertoire.

Love, loss, and what I sang Love, loss, and what I sang

Sunday is Handel’s 335th birthday, an event Trove Thursday celebrates with Rodelinda, Regina de’Longobardi, one of the composer’s most popular works.

A fine day for a ‘Parade’ A fine day for a ‘Parade’

On this day in 1981 the Metropolitan Opera premiered triple bill of Satie’s Parade, Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias and Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges.

Love sex magic Love sex magic

By an astounding coincidence, on Monday night Handel’s third and fourth extant operas were being performed simultaneously across the street from each other at Lincoln Center.

Favorite things Favorite things

Donizetti’s La Favorite remains a relative rarity in the repertoire, especially in the original French version.