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The highlight of this year’s Bard Summerscape festival must be a rare staging of Dvorak’s Dimitrij.

Soprano/critic Soprano/critic

Born on this day in 1921 soprano Marcella Pobbè.

The beautiful stage is empty The beautiful stage is empty

Two productions at the Aix-en-Provence festival shared one look.

Broadway baby Broadway baby

Happy 42nd birthday actor and singer-songwriter Cheyenne Jackson.

“Fluent coloratura and dramatic enchantment” “Fluent coloratura and dramatic enchantment”

Born on this day in 1925 soprano Mattiwilda Dobbs.

Levine to return to triumphant debut opera Levine to return to triumphant debut opera

The gala New Year’s Eve Tosca at the Met next season is going to be conducted by that hot young talent James Levine.

Operas on the verge of a nervous breakdown Operas on the verge of a nervous breakdown

It’s a pity that Francis Poulenc took so long to getting around to compose his operas.

Imogenary beings Imogenary beings

Will Crutchfield’s Bel Canto at Caramoor program of concert operas concluded with a bang on Saturday with Bellini’s first success, Il Pirata.

Someday I’ll step on their freckles Someday I’ll step on their freckles

Congratulations to dramatic coloratura soprano Klára Kolonits.

Let’s Carl the whole thing Orff Let’s Carl the whole thing Orff

Born on this day in 1895 composer Carl Orff.

Mike the knife Mike the knife

Those interested in sampling Michael Fabiano‘s “glowering demeanor” and “sensitive, vibrant lyric tenor” in Carmen  (NYT)  may do so so via ARTE.

Broadcast: Tannhäuser Broadcast: Tannhäuser

Wagner’s Tannhäuser in a controversial new production by Romeo Castellucci.

Midsummer gladness Midsummer gladness

Gone are the halcyon days of tradition and ritual.

Nobody indiscreet can find us Nobody indiscreet can find us

Born on this day very early indeed in the 20th century authoress Barbara Cartland.

July song July song

Happy 66th birthday actress Angelica Huston.

‘Mawrdew,’ he wrote ‘Mawrdew,’ he wrote

Published in 1975, James McCourt’s novel Mawrdew Czgowchwz is engaged with a longing for the divine.

The worker of the world has nothing to lose but his chains The worker of the world has nothing to lose but his chains

Happy 70th birthday to long-time Village Person David Hodo.

Iris, hence away Iris, hence away

Endlessly extricating her from existing contracts then negotiating new ones must make being Sonya Yoncheva’s manager the hardest job in the music business.

Keepsakes Keepsakes

Born on this day circa 1910 soprano Dorothy Kirsten.

“Life is a horizontal fall” “Life is a horizontal fall”

Born on this day in 1889 writer, filmmaker and designer Jean Cocteau.

“Win or lose, we go shopping after the election” “Win or lose, we go shopping after the election”

Happy 88th birthday to former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos.

Leaving blood on the shirt Leaving blood on the shirt

The debate over live transmissions of opera to cinemas in HD isn’t going to go away.

You have to be taught to be second class; you’re not born that way You have to be taught to be second class; you’re not born that way

Born on this day in 1917 singer and actress Lena Horne.

The zoo story The zoo story

A week from Saturday Will Crutchfield’s “Bel Canto at Caramoor” ends a 20-year run with Il Pirata.