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Happy 69th birthday Irish mezzo-soprano (not Canadian pop singer) Ann Murray.
Born on this day in 1918 composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein.
A vintage performance of Il trovatore from Paris in 1975 featuring (in alphabetical order) Renata Scotto and Shirley Verrett.
Happy 62nd birthday director Francesca Zambello.
Lately “Trove Thursday” has been binging on prima donnas so the rest of August will be more tenor-centric. This week brings a double bill starring the marvelous Michael Spyres, a specialist in rarities: Rossini’s Ermione and that American obscurity Candide whose composer’s 100th birthday, by the way, is this Saturday.
>Happy 64th birthday actor, playwright, cabaret performer, drag legend, raconteur and clothes horse Charles Busch.
The Lamplighters Music Theatre opened their 66th season in SF last Saturday with triumphant performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.
“An up-and-coming baritone singer alleges he was drugged and violently raped in 2010 by two of opera/classical music’s shining stars, David Daniels and Scott Walters.”
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Landing the plane
Landing the plane
With Nixon, Klinghoffer, and Andris Nelsons on the mind, Parterre Box offers a recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent John Adams outing.
With Nixon, Klinghoffer, and Andris Nelsons on the mind, Parterre Box offers a recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent John Adams outing.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Le galant tireur
Le galant tireur
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
My 600 performance life
My 600 performance life
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Life imitates art
Life imitates art
With Gustavo Dudamel in the spotlight at Parterre Box this week, Grand Tier Grab Bag foreshadows one of the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming operatic engagements.
With Gustavo Dudamel in the spotlight at Parterre Box this week, Grand Tier Grab Bag foreshadows one of the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming operatic engagements.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Drink me
Drink me
Parterre Box answers the question, “how can a singer do both Tristan and Nemorino within a few month of each other?” with a clip of a recent role debut from Michael Spyres.
Parterre Box answers the question, “how can a singer do both Tristan and Nemorino within a few month of each other?” with a clip of a recent role debut from Michael Spyres.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Otherwise occupied
Otherwise occupied
Parterre Box features a performance from two belcantisti who would rather you not think about their political affiliations.
Parterre Box features a performance from two belcantisti who would rather you not think about their political affiliations.
Born on this day in 1893 poet, writer, critic and satirist Dorothy Parker.
The actress and teacher died earlier today of lung cancer. She was 83.
Happy 85th birthday mezzo-soprano Janet Baker.
For your pleasure: visit Fake Norman Stories and see AI-generated Slipped Disc headlines.
Salieri’s La Cifra (“The Cipher”) played all over Europe for 20 years, in several translations (German, Spanish). Then, like many a worthy work, it was forgotten.
On this day in 1828 Rossini’s Le Comte d’Ory premiered in Paris.
All politics is vocal in Jan Lauwers’ Salzburg production of the Monteverdi masterpiece, which will be streamed at 12:30 PM on Monday.
Born on this day in 1883 designer Coco Chanel.
Talk of the Town
The Talk of the Town
A favorite art song performance from Armerjacquino
A favorite art song performance from Armerjacquino
“Du bist die ruh” was one of the first art songs I ever knew.
“Du bist die ruh” was one of the first art songs I ever knew.
The Talk of the Town
A favorite art song performance from Emma Hoffman
A favorite art song performance from Emma Hoffman
Respighi‘s liriche can be as colorful, poetic, and downright lovely as any selection from other art song traditions. Case in point: Rosa Feola‘s recording of the first song from Quattro rispetti toscani.
Respighi‘s liriche can be as colorful, poetic, and downright lovely as any selection from other art song traditions. Case in point: Rosa Feola‘s recording of the first song from Quattro rispetti toscani.
The Talk of the Town
Two favorite art song performances from Julia Bullock
Two favorite art song performances from Julia Bullock
This task feels near impossible, as I listen to a LOT of art song singers on repeat, across decades and continents (from piano to orchestral works) — mostly for pleasure, but also for study.
This task feels near impossible, as I listen to a LOT of art song singers on repeat, across decades and continents (from piano to orchestral works) — mostly for pleasure, but also for study.
The Talk of the Town
A favorite art song performance from CKurwenal
A favorite art song performance from CKurwenal
I listen to about as much art song as I do opera and could have filled every day of April with favorite selections.
I listen to about as much art song as I do opera and could have filled every day of April with favorite selections.
The Talk of the Town
A favorite art song performance from Moe Rear
A favorite art song performance from Moe Rear
This performance of Poulenc‘s “Les Chemins de l’amour” is a gem.
This performance of Poulenc‘s “Les Chemins de l’amour” is a gem.
The Talk of the Town
A favorite art song performance from Peter
A favorite art song performance from Peter
A very haunting Hugo Wolf song sung exquisitely here by Arleen Auger.
A very haunting Hugo Wolf song sung exquisitely here by Arleen Auger.
“A quite impartial, not quite chronological guide through opera from Monteverdi to John Adams.”
Born on this day in 1912, 1908, 1905 or perhaps 1900, soprano Miliza Korjus.
For the return of parterre saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM, Our Own JJ salutes soprano Aprile Millo.
I’m no fach expert but I will admit the “gay stile” is a new one for me — somewhere between the lyric and the dramatic tenor voices, perhaps?
Born in Bushwick on this day in 1893 actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian and sex symbol Mae West.
La Cieca is almost certain that Diana Damrau will not appear at the Met this fall for La traviata.
The Queen of Soul has died.
As our Trove Thursday creator Chris Corwin takes a well-deserved week off, La Cieca brings you one from the vaults.