Don’t turn the light on!
There are a number of fine elements in this film, and a couple that are exceptional—but I can’t get over the wrongness of its look.
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Some sort of a genius
Born on this day in 1897 composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Les Troyens
Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Bryan Hymel and Dwayne Croft star in this HD telecast transmitted live on January 5, 2013.
Salome
Lise Lindstrom, Waltraud Meier and Michael Volle star in this performance from the Vienna State Opera.
Multiple Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana began Pietro Mascagni’s career with a bang, and despite a number of fine subsequent works the composer never again achieved the same lasting success that he had with his first.
The odd couple
Born on this day in 1925 baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and in 1943 soprano Elena Suliotis.
Manon Lescaut
parterre box‘s tutelary goddess Renata Scotto is at her most tantalizing in this 1980 telecast.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
Tusk to tusk
Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana has always been a particular favorite, although I’ve only seen it staged once (and that by an amateur company the details of which I share spare you all, save to note that dinner was served during the performance.)
Le nozze di Figaro
Director Michael Grandage updates the action to the swinging sixties in this 2012 production at Glyndebourne.
“It’s as much fun to scare as to be scared”
Born on this day in 1911 actor and bon vivant Vincent Price.
Ernani
Starring Angela Meade, Marcello Giordani, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Ferruccio Furlanetto. Transmitted live on February 25, 2012.
Béatrice et Bénédict
La Monnaie – De Munt performs in the Muntpaleis, a specially constructed tent on the grounds of the Tour & Taxis exhibition ground.
Red-headed woman
This made-for-network version is surprisingly provocative and creative for its time. It’s not an unqualified success, but in terms of understanding the play as a whole, it’s a necessary part of the conversation.
“A lifetime of emotions every day”
Happy 82nd birthday soprano Teresa Stratas.
La Damnation de Faust
Berlioz’s sweeping take on the Faust legend stars Marcello Giordani, Susan Graham and John Relyea.
Best Curtain Line
With thanks to commenter Krunoslav for the suggestion, we will kick off our new game with the theme “Best Curtain Line.”
Cendrillon
Joyce DiDonato in the Royal Opera House Covent Garden’s 2011 production of Massenet’s opera.
Cruising
Have you ever gotten some action at the opera? Had an assignation while in standing-room? Crept off to the toilet (or elsewhere) with a handsome man during a performance?
Crazy to start with
Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills.
Manon
Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot star in this performance conducted by Fabio Luisi. Transmitted live on April 7, 2012.
Some things are not forgivable
Perhaps the idea here is to give Tennessee Williams’ 1947 play a renewed sense of visceral power that speaks to a younger audience? Maybe, but it doesn’t speak to me.
Absolutely nothing is the same
On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s Mame opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run 1,508 performances.
Faust
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, starring Marina Poplavskaya, Jonas Kaufmann, Russell Braun and René Pape. Transmitted live on December 10, 2011.
