Pubies 2018: Best Non-Met Staged Production Pubies 2018: Best Non-Met Staged Production

And the Pubie goes to: Fellow Travelers!

Pubies 2018: Best Concert Performance Pubies 2018: Best Concert Performance

Anna Caterina Antonacci in recital.

I will remember you I will remember you

Whether full-bodied and rich or comic and actorly, the baritone voice contains multitudes.

“Art is the signature of civilizations” “Art is the signature of civilizations”

Born on this day in 1929 soprano and administrator Beverly Sills.

Fan mail to La Nilsson Fan mail to La Nilsson

On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of your birth, I am perplexed as to what to write about you that isn’t of the highest, most ecstatic praise and of deliriously effusive encomiums.

The constant nymph The constant nymph

The old adage “the third time’s the charm” proved to be the case with me and Daphne, Richard Strauss’s ravishing bukolische Tragödie, when I recently heard it performed by Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra.

We think you’re just sensational We think you’re just sensational

On this day in 1966 Jerry Herman‘s Mame opened on Broadway.

BASTA: Only God can make a tree BASTA: Only God can make a tree

“Hey. Sorry to trouble you. I was wondering if I could have a word with my client.”

Die Zirkusprinzessin Die Zirkusprinzessin

Happy 82nd birthday soprano Ingeborg Hallstein.

Gesamtkunst Gesamtkunst

Born on this day in 1813 composer Richard Wagner.

Senza nube e senza vel Senza nube e senza vel

I attended the Sunday, May 13, performance with bittersweet anticipation.

Give ’em Hellman Give ’em Hellman

I mean, how often does one get to hear Bernstein’s gorgeous, rollicking, and varied score nursed by a full orchestra and the artistic resources of an opera company?

Misty salvation Misty salvation

Ah, finalmente!

He who laughs first He who laughs first

On this day in 1892 Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci premiered in Milan.

One of the drawbacks of fame is that one can never escape from it One of the drawbacks of fame is that one can never escape from it

Born on this day in 1861 soprano Nellie Melba.

Without a trace Without a trace

La Cieca apologizes for this afternoon’s missing streamed show and promised to be back on-air next week.

“Tosca,” starring the Philadelphia Orchestra “Tosca,” starring the Philadelphia Orchestra

Though orchestrally lavish, this “semi-staging” delivers less theater than no staging at all.

Lovely and never violent Lovely and never violent

There was a lot expectation about the new opera by George Benjamin and Martin Crimp. Their previous collaboration, Written on Skin, was an enormous critical and public success,  earning the work a place in the exclusive club of 21th century classics with selected works by Saariaho, Heggie and Birtwistle. 

A touch of the stone A touch of the stone

“Trove Thursday” turns its Rossini-150 series to one of the composer’s least known but tastiest comic gems La Pietra del Paragone with Julia Hamari, Justino Diaz, Alessandro Corbelli, Claudio Desderi and Paolo Barbacini conducted by Roberto Abbado. 

Talking to John Raitt, part three Talking to John Raitt, part three

In the final installment of this interview, the star discusses the enduring appeal of Carousel.

Double diva day Double diva day

Born on this day in 1906 soprano Zinka Milanov and in 1918 soprano Birgit Nilsson.

Meeting Rigoletto Meeting Rigoletto

I have a confession to make. I have been taking Rigoletto for granted.

When in Rome When in Rome

Mozart was barely sixteen when he wrote Lucio Silla to open the Carnival in Milan in 1772.

Talking to John Raitt, part two Talking to John Raitt, part two

In the third part of this interview with John Raitt, the singer speaks in great detail how he was cast in his breakthrough role of Billy Bigelow in Carousel.