O holy nightingale
Happy 71st birthday soprano Edita Gruberova.
Recent Stories
“You just want to kiss yourself, you sound so great”
“Are you kidding? I’m having it put in my casket.”
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).
“Art is a kind of illness”
Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini.
Catch me if you cantata
J.S. Bach doesn’t get a lot of attention on this site although he wrote tons of vocal music.
Intimacy
Last week, a pair of terrific recitals demonstrated what kind of intimate spell a dramatic singer can cast when left alone with a piano.
On with the dance
On this day in 1921 Jerome Kern‘s Sally opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre, to run 561 performances.
What a joy to be young
Born on this day in 1907 soprano Marion Talley.
Hell’s kitchen
Hansel and Gretel might just be the best thing the Met has done so far this season.
“I think you have to pay for love with bitter tears”
Born on this day in 1915 singer Edith Piaf.
Digging in the dirt
Even those of us who consider Guillaume Tell Rossini’s greatest opera understand why it has not been his most frequently staged.
Silver bell
Born on this day in 1920 soprano Rita Streich with music for the holidays.
As if they never said goodbye
Handsome singing by Roberto Alagna and extremely heavy makeup on Barbara Frittoli highlight these excerpts from Adriana Lecouvreur in Monte Carlo.
Iron man
On this day in 1398 the Turkic conqueror Tamerlane captured and sacked Delhi.
Broadcast: Norma
This afternoon’s Met broadcast (starting at 1:00 PM) is Bellini’s Norma.
Angel of the mourning
The most distinct pleasure of The Merry Widow at the Metropolitan Opera was the polished, yet warm, performance of Susan Graham as Hanna Glawari.
“It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit”
Born on this day in 1899 composer, playwright and actor Noel Coward.
All in the family
Here’s a project apparently nobody has thought of and it’s a sure winner: Semiramide with Cecilia Bartoli and Franco Fagioli.
Woman of the century
Happy 100th birthday soprano Hilde Zadek!
Afterlife
The Bayerische Staatsoper, purveyor of fascinating video opera, continues to innovate.
Broadcast: The Merry Widow
Sassy Susan Graham is Hanna Glawari tonight at the Met, broadcast starting at 7:30 PM.
Polar opposite
“Trove Thursday” offers Glinka’s A Life for the Tsar with Albina Shagimuratova, Alisa Kolosova, Dmytro Popov and Gennadi Bezzubenkov.
Seine city
On this day in 1918 Puccini’s Il Trittico premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.
Declining
Mr. Plummer is very wise and La Cieca intends (in a general sense) to continue to follow his example.