“Eurotrash” * “Eurotrash” *

Born on this day in 1932 director and designer Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.

Crazy in love Crazy in love

I am, perhaps instinctively, skeptical of those who commit suicide.

Broadcast: I puritani Broadcast: I puritani

Javier Camarena fanboys (and others) are invited to comment on today’s Met broadcast of I puritani, which begins at 1:00 PM. 

A very successful mouseburger A very successful mouseburger

Born on this day in 1922 author and editor Helen Gurley Brown.

Occult following Occult following

Radvanovsky delivered a vocal and histrionic performance that should be the gold standard Norma for years.

Born in the saddle Born in the saddle

Born on this day in 1909 soprano Marjorie Lawrence.

Panel stumped Panel stumped

La Cieca admits she was surprised the historically well-informed cher public missed the mark so frequently on the “Breadbox” quiz.

Hooray for Holy Land Hooray for Holy Land

Trove Thursday presents as compensation Verdi’s Jérusalem with Cecilia Gasdia, Veriano Luchetti and Silvano Carroli conducted by Donato Renzetti.

You should embrace the past and understand it, deal with it and go forward You should embrace the past and understand it, deal with it and go forward

Happy 79th birthday composer John Corigliano.

Leading lady Leading lady

“She not only sang the difficult leading role, she also directed the opera.”

Apathy greets announcement of Metropolitan Opera’s 2017-2018 season Apathy greets announcement of Metropolitan Opera’s 2017-2018 season

An authentically reactionary revival of Franco Zeffirelli‘s sacred production of Puccini’s Tosca is the highlight of the Met’s 2017-2018 season, staged by Sir David McVicar.

Pretty in Puritani Pretty in Puritani

Pretty Yende was still hanging around after her last Barbiere and she knows the role of Elvira, having sung it in Zurich last June.

People who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts People who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts

On this day in 1939 Lillian Hellman‘s The Little Foxes opened at the National Theatre, to run 410 performances.

Reminder: predict the Met’s 2017-2018 casting and win big! Reminder: predict the Met’s 2017-2018 casting and win big!

The Met Casting for 2017-2018 competition closes at 10:00 AM tomorrow (Wednesday).

The leggy movie The leggy movie

This Met’s second production of Berg’s 1935 opera was the hot topic of November 2015.

The right box The right box

Let’s call this meeting to order. My name is Patrick and I’m a boxset-aholic.

Haunted heart Haunted heart

Happy 58th birthday soprano Renée Fleming.

End of an era End of an era

Fort Worth Opera earlier today parted ways with its general director of 16 years, Darren K. Woods.

A time to ill A time to ill

Pretty Yende will sing the role of Elvira in tomorrow evening’s performance of Bellini’s I Puritani, replacing Diana Damrau, who is ill.”

Death becomes him Death becomes him

Tancredi, given on February 10th, was a credit to Opera Philadelphia, who offered a well-considered and compelling production.

What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?

This week we get closer to completing the operas of Benjamin Britten with The Rape of Lucretia.

The Queen of Babylon The Queen of Babylon

Happy birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato. 

When I have sung my songs to you I’ll sing no more When I have sung my songs to you I’ll sing no more

Which octogenarian fixture of the operatic world is preparing to make a farewell of sorts, perhaps as soon as late summer of this year?

Simple gifts Simple gifts

Happy birthday tenor Anthony Dean Griffey!