The glamorous life The glamorous life

Happy 96th birthday actress Glynis Johns.

“I only do what I like to do” “I only do what I like to do”

Happy 63rd birthday actor Christoph Waltz.

Hot takes, get your hot takes here Hot takes, get your hot takes here

“In none of this was he ever anything close to perfect. Great artists never are. Without their devils there would be no angels.”

Turandot Turandot

Join us, cher public and stranger alike, for tonight’s broadcast.

Miss me blind Miss me blind

Which soprano, who’s so talented you’d think her career would go on forever, has quietly decided to retire following her current not every eventful season?

A Norman conquest A Norman conquest

When I first heard of this broadcast my thought was to save it to celebrate Jessye Norman‘s 75th birthday in 2020.

Direct and terrible Direct and terrible

Born on this day in 1859 actress Eleanora Duse.

Goodbye Los Angeles: Domingo resigns Goodbye Los Angeles: Domingo resigns

“The opera superstar Plácido Domingo resigned from his position as general director of Los Angeles Opera and withdrew from his upcoming performances there on Wednesday. ” [New York Times]

The other woman The other woman

I can’t think of an opera this year that I’ve enjoyed as much as Tuesday’s Met Macbeth, thanks especially to the smashing house debut of Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi as its blazing Madame M.

“I intend to live forever, or die trying” “I intend to live forever, or die trying”

Born on this day in 1890 actor, comedian, author and television personality Groucho Marx.

Come and knock on her door Come and knock on her door

High concept! Joyce DiDonato is Mrs. Roper!

Sunday will never be the same Sunday will never be the same

Surely no one can be surprised to learn that the departure of Plácido Domingo from the Met was the most-read story on parterre box for the month of September.

“Sometimes I’m so sweet even I can’t stand it” “Sometimes I’m so sweet even I can’t stand it”

Happy 84th birthday Julie Andrews!

Race-bait to the bottom Race-bait to the bottom

That’s right, it’s September 30, 2019 and Venomous Fishwife Norman Lebrecht claims this is the first time in his entire life he has heard that some people might find Turandot offensive.

Jessye Norman 1945-2019 Jessye Norman 1945-2019

The Grammy winning opera and concert singer is dead. She was 74.

From a distance From a distance

The opening night of the Canadian Opera Company’s 2019-20 season was all about the Wilsons.

Sparkle, Lyric, sparkle! Sparkle, Lyric, sparkle!

It’s an old chestnut of a joke that applies even more to opera than to the theatre: A veteran actor is on his deathbed.

The Philadelphia stories The Philadelphia stories

As we also saw last year, Festival O19 ended on a sweetly quiet note, movingly connecting Opera Philadelphia with the larger city and our musical future.

Sleeper Sleeper

As the Netrebko-crowned Macbeth took to the stage at the Met, just a few blocks away, Teatro Grattacielo presented its 25th Anniversary Gala Concert.

Star-flaming Star-flaming

On this day in 1791 Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte premiered in Vienna.

Martin Bernheimer 1936-2019 Martin Bernheimer 1936-2019

Critic Martin Bernheimer has died. He was 83.

If I had a photograph of you If I had a photograph of you

I’m certain I wasn’t the only one thrilled to bits to see LA Opera’s production of La Bohème finally retired after 26 years and seven mountings.

Here I stand, the goddess of desire Here I stand, the goddess of desire

Born on this day in 1942 actress Madeline Kahn.

I feel your thane I feel your thane

Bass-baritone Craig Colclough makes his Met debut tonight in the title role of Macbeth.