Incalculable theatricality Incalculable theatricality

Happy 84th birthday to the diva of divas, Renata Scotto!

Nanette Fabray 1920-2018 Nanette Fabray 1920-2018

The versatile singer and actress died yesterday at her home in Palos Verdes, Calif. She was 97.

Méditerranée Méditerranée

Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.

Like breathing out and breathing in Like breathing out and breathing in

Has anyone who assigned, wrote, edited or published this piece ever seen My Fair Lady?

Women on the verge Women on the verge

“Trove Thursday” offers Così fan tutte with Pilar Lorengar, Josephine Veasey, Lucia Popp, Luigi Alva and Kieth Engen with Georg Solti conducting.

If dubbing you is wrong I don’t want to be right If dubbing you is wrong I don’t want to be right

Born on this day in 1930 soprano Marni Nixon.

Unprotected Unprotected

Antonacci’s singing is remarkably beautiful for one who clearly doesn’t make that a top priority.

BASTA: Stridono lasso BASTA: Stridono lasso

Supernumerary callbacks for the Big Apple Singing Theater Association’s spring production of Bison Don’t Cry were held later that night at the Mariachi Playhouse.

“What price star system?” “What price star system?”

On this day in 1957, Renata Tebaldi sang the title role in a new production of La traviata at the Met, directed by Tyrone Guthrie.

Surfacing: an appreciation in 20 fragments Surfacing: an appreciation in 20 fragments

I struggle to articulate the notion of an erotics of art.

Gilt trip Gilt trip

As a diehard completist I felt guilty as the Met’s scattered, campy revival of Semiramide lumbered toward its abrupt conclusion after nearly four hours.

“Where’s my serpent of old Nile? “Where’s my serpent of old Nile?

On this day in 1724 Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto premiered in London.

Broadcast: Semiramide Broadcast: Semiramide

Make an Assyrian of yourself tonight starting at 7:25 PM!

True Romans True Romans

On Saturday Juilliard 415 welcomed the sterling 10-member Belgian group Vox Luminis for a striking program of “Handel in Rome.”

Sì bella, sì pura, del ciel creatura Sì bella, sì pura, del ciel creatura

In observance of Edita’s Gruberova’s 50th anniversary in opera, I would like to offer a series of commentaries, over successive days, of my favorite performances.

Visual-minded Visual-minded

On this day in 1967 the Marc Chagall production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte was unveiled at the Met. Soprano Lucia Popp made her Met debut as the Queen of the Night.

The fire of artifice The fire of artifice

My mother leaned in and quietly whispered,”Is that Leontyne Price?” to which I replied,”Shhhh!”

Midcentury, modern Midcentury, modern

In recent years, Opera Paralléle has established a reputation for creative programming of contemporary opera in San Francisco. Persuaded both by the promise of an unusual Bernstein-Heggie double bill, and the unusual venue of SF Jazz’s Miner Auditorium, I had the pleasure of attending an excellent production this past week. 

The mélodie haunts my reverie The mélodie haunts my reverie

Happy 85th birthday soprano Elly Ameling.

Technical difficulties Technical difficulties

La bohéme returned to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera once again last night (does it ever leave?)

Stout fellow Stout fellow

There are two delights here: a delectable score too rarely heard and an introduction at close quarters to half a dozen young singers ready for takeoff, indeed already flying.

Broadcast: Parsifal Broadcast: Parsifal

An early start for today’s broadcast, cher public: get enlightened starting at 11:30 AM.

To live with dishonor To live with dishonor

On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan.

Measuring up Measuring up

On this day in 1966, the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.