“You can disagree without being disagreeable” “You can disagree without being disagreeable”

On this day in 1994 Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as a US Supreme Court Justice.

“Let them hate me, so long as they fear me” “Let them hate me, so long as they fear me”

Happy 71st birthday President Donald Trump.

Monday in the park with mike Monday in the park with mike

From up close, the miked opera singer can be a bit tough to take.

Philip Gossett 1941-2017 Philip Gossett 1941-2017

The American musicologist died earlier today in Chicago.

Nobody knows where it really ends Nobody knows where it really ends

On this day in 1956, the floperetta Shangri-La opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run a whopping 21 performances.

Let me live by my wits and Trost to my luck Let me live by my wits and Trost to my luck

I finally get to complete my personal operatic Top Ten this week with Igor Stravinsky’s only full-length opera, The Rake’s Progress. 

“Was this well done of your lady?” “Was this well done of your lady?”

On this day in 1963 Cleopatra premiered at New York’s Rivoli Theatre. 

And the ‘Angels’ sing And the ‘Angels’ sing

Angels in America reimagined as an actual, full-blown opera.

They’re broke and that’s oak They’re broke and that’s oak

The important thing to remember about Druids is that they don’t follow fashion very much.

Broadcast: Don Quichotte Broadcast: Don Quichotte

This afternoon’s discussion centers around Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Don Quichotte, broadcast at 1:00 PM.

Miss Show Business Miss Show Business

Born on this day in 1922 singer, actress and vaudevillian Judy Garland.

Attending the op’ry, my box would be a bust Attending the op’ry, my box would be a bust

Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.

And three for Mahler And three for Mahler

A poster outside Carnegie Hall proclaimed “Mahler Well Met” and to some degree it proved to be true.

We just wanna be loved We just wanna be loved

A complete live performance of Stephen Sondheim’s wildly eccentric Anyone Can Whistle featuring the divine Audra McDonald as Fay.

A little story that should make you cry A little story that should make you cry

Born on this day in 1921 actress Alexis Smith.

Solitude gives birth to the original in us Solitude gives birth to the original in us

Born on this day in 1875 writer Thomas Mann.

Intermezzo (a love story) Intermezzo (a love story)

 The glorious and beloved Elisabeth Söderström tackles the fiendishly difficult role of Christine in a 1974 performance from Glyndebourne.

In the River Rhine.  In it. In the River Rhine.  In it.

It is always a pleasure to hear a great orchestra take on a major score that might sound half-muffled emerging from the pit of an opera house.

“I can’t remember when I didn’t want to be an actress” “I can’t remember when I didn’t want to be an actress”

Born on this day in 1912 singer and Alice Faye.

The kid stays in the picture The kid stays in the picture

Happy 51st birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.

Broadcast: Les Troyens Broadcast: Les Troyens

La Cieca (not pictured) assumes the cher public will be here for the duration of Les Troyens from Lyric Opera of Chicago starting this afternoon at 1:00 PM. (Photo: Todd Rosenberg)

And so remember this, life is no abyss And so remember this, life is no abyss

Born on this day in 1904 tenor Jan Peerce.

Arrivederci, Romany! Arrivederci, Romany!

In the same season that Manhattan School of Music revived The Gypsy Baron, Riverside Theater around the corner is the site of Amore Opera’s “Season of Gypsy Operas.”

Tomb service Tomb service

An outstanding performance of Weber’s Euryanthe to share on “Trove Thursday.”