And Carthage flames tomorrow And Carthage flames tomorrow

Born on this day in 1938 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos.

Miss me blond Miss me blond

From the technical standpoint San Francisco Opera’s Billy Budd was pretty much flawless.

Learning scales will never seem so sweet again Learning scales will never seem so sweet again

Born on this day in 1899 West End, Broadway and film crooner Georges Metaxa.

Wolf whistle Wolf whistle

Sam Neuman shares tips and tricks for behaving like a cultured person at the opera.

My name is Barbuta My name is Barbuta

Queen of the Photo Shoot Cecilia Bartoli has done it again.

Paris original Paris original

Born on this day in 1890 fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli.

Get this Pati started Get this Pati started

Politics and romance entangled in a spectacular fashion at San Francisco Operas’s Roméo et Juliette.

“We are asleep until we fall in love!” “We are asleep until we fall in love!”

Born on this day in 1828 writer Lev Nikolayevich “Leo” Tolstoy.

Cold dead hands Cold dead hands

The press department at the English National Opera is considering a revamp of the company’s press seating policy.

Crazy Crazy

Born on this day in 1932 singer Patsy Cline.

Broadcast: Das Rheingold Broadcast: Das Rheingold

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts this live performance from the Finnish National Opera.

Folle amore! Folle ebbrezza! Folle amore! Folle ebbrezza!

Happy 54th birthday soprano Angela Gheorghiu.

Romeo and politics Romeo and politics

La Cieca is informed that the opening night of San Francisco Opera’s Roméo et Juliette was delayed by an “Impeach Trump” demonstration, with hundreds of flyers dropped into the auditorium.

Shout it out loud Shout it out loud

Born on this day in 1937 big-voiced comic actress Joanne Worley.

Full house Full house

Yusif Eyvazov will sing Hermann in the performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades on December 8, 14, and 21, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko.”

Unsex me here Unsex me here

An “Anti-Harassment Workshop” was scheduled at the Met today in the same room where Plácido Domingo was rehearsing for this season’s revival of Macbeth.

Voi sapete quel che fa Voi sapete quel che fa

If any more women come forth with sexual harassment accusations against Plácido Domingo, the Associated Press is going to have to hire Leporello to keep track.

Global charming Global charming

Trove Thursday presents Rameau’s deliciously exotic omnibus Les Indes Galantes.

Tweet dreams Tweet dreams

Happy 59th birthday soprano Karita Mattila.

They’ve got plenty of something They’ve got plenty of something

This season, the Metropolitan Opera offers the opportunity for “loyal supporter[s} of the Met” to revel in home versions of Live in HD telecasts for “a tax-deductible contribution of $10,000, over and above one’s current annual Patron commitment.”

Pape Idol Pape Idol

Happy 55th birthday bass René Pape.

Girl of the emboldened west Girl of the emboldened west

L’Italiana in Algeri‘s appearance at the Salzburg Festival should be no surprise since Ceciila Bartoli has been the intendant of the Whitsun Festival extension at Salzburg since 2012.

West coast story West coast story

Pene Pati, originally scheduled to sing Romeo on October 1, will perform the role in all performances, replacing Bryan Hymel who has withdrawn for personal reasons.

Grande dame Grande dame

Born on this day in 1910 singer, actress and arts administrator Kitty Carlisle Hart.