“Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill!”
Charles Castronovo will sing the role of Roméo in all performances of the Metropolitan Opera’s forthcoming production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette.
Recent Stories
Tragically Hippolyte
I had my head in my hands groaning in disbelief instead of joining in the general applause around me.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Cat’s meow
Happy 70th birthday soprano Catherine Malfitano.
Follies! Follies!
New York has neon, Berlin has bars, but, ah! Parigi!
I’m every diva, it’s all in me
La Cieca, fashion arbiter though she may be, cannot figure out what is going on with this day-to-evening (and then some) look Sonya Yoncheva is flaunting.
Now and forever
Happy 78th (or so) birthday to soprano/mezzo-soprano Anja Silja.
The whole world on a plate
Astonishing Angela Gheorghiu blows a kiss and takes a bow after her role debut as Rose in Gypsy.
Warhorse
Francesca da Rimini was performed at La Scala four times in 1950 and five times in 1959.
Giglio d’april
April brought I Puritani to Palermo’s centerpiece Teatro Massimo.
L’ombra mostrarsi a me!
Since his death, Mackerras has had not very much interesting to say aside from “Avenge me!”
Cliff notes
Opera premieres on this day: Handel’s Alcina (London, 1735), Meyerbeer’s Le Prophète (Paris, 1849) and Gounod’s Sapho (Paris, 1851).
We’ll go on forever, Pa
“Ma Joad is no doubt the most challenging role of my career thus far,” observed Fleming.
The biting and the fighting
On this day in 1939, the Metropolitan Opera on tour in New Orleans presented Carmen featuring Bruna Castagna in the title role.
Broadcast: Luisa Miller
The love and intrigue begin at 12:30 PM.
Bell of the ball
On this day in 1883 Leo Delibes’ Lakmé premiered in Paris.
Kingly sex
As far as prewar Italian verismo goes, L’amore dei tre re is a supernova.
I want magic
Why, only now, Cendrillon is having its premiere at the Met is a puzzling question.
They live by night
A heady audience paid top price to pack Carnegie Hall Thursday for just 80 minutes of unstaged Wagner.
Day of the Divas 2: Divadienst!
Born on this day: four divas and counting!
BASTA: You must take the ‘C’ train
After an early Saturday shift bar-backing at Aura Bar, Evan had trotted over to his friend Jesús Halévy’s for a late-night slumber party à deux.
Djinn and tonic
“Trove Thursday” offers one of Rameau’s rarest full-length works, Acante et Céphise featuring The English Concert conducted by Trevor Pinnock.
Day of the divas
Born on this day in 1898 soprano Lily Pons. Happy 85th birthday soprano Montserrat Caballé and happy 70th birthday soprano Mariella Devia!
Modern family
Yusif Eyvazov will sing the role of Cavaradossi in the first four performances of the spring run of Puccini’s Tosca, replacing Marcelo Álvarez.