Women beware women Women beware women

Prototype: Opera/Theatre/Now presented new works in which women were variously gang-raped, eviscerated and executed by firing squad.

Faster, higher, stronger Faster, higher, stronger

Happy 66th birthday tenor Rockwell Blake.

Musical theater of the absurd Musical theater of the absurd

It’s easy to see why Leonard Bernstein’s Candide was a flop when it premiered on Broadway.

Dirty dancing Dirty dancing

The DVD of Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen‘s 2013 opera The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Theory of revolution Theory of revolution

Jonas Kaufmann announced that he feels ready to return to the stage after calling in sick since last autumn

Kunstdiva Kunstdiva

Happy 60th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier.

That is the explanation of the crime That is the explanation of the crime

anatomy theater, receiving its New York premiere Saturday night at this year’s Prototype Festival, is a conceptual exercise in which nothing, absolutely nothing is left to the imagination.

Ever ever ever Ever ever ever

Happy 80th birthday songstress and diva Dame Shirley Bassey.

Sea, no evil Sea, no evil

Breaking the Waves is not only a “real opera,” it is an immensely powerful work of music drama.

Robbed blind Robbed blind

Which internationally famous but vocally shaky diva may soon find her career waning if her upcoming appearance in one of her signature roles gets nixed?

Chat: Nabucco Chat: Nabucco

Listen and discuss, cher public, as the Met broadcasts Nabucco.

‘Mid pleasures and palaces ‘Mid pleasures and palaces

On this day in 1893 Hermann Sudermann‘s Heimat premiered in Berlin.

Comparisons are odious Comparisons are odious

One thing that is killing opera is the practice of critics’ comparing the singers they heard last night to dead or retired artists.

I used to think I needed a man to define myself I used to think I needed a man to define myself

Born on this day in 1928 actress and model Capucine.

Suivez-moi dans le temple Suivez-moi dans le temple

2017 happily brings the return of Trove Thursday with a rare and enthralling live performance of Gluck’s Alceste featuring Jessye Norman.

“Unless the theatre can ennoble you, make you a better person, you should flee from it” “Unless the theatre can ennoble you, make you a better person, you should flee from it”

Born on this day in 1863 theatre and opera producer Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky.

Together again for the first time Together again for the first time

From Unnatural Acts of Opera, a duo concert with Shirley Verrett and Grace Bumbry at Carnegie Hall.

Pedal to the metal Pedal to the metal

Happy 80th birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry

And I pity any girl who isn’t she tonight And I pity any girl who isn’t she tonight

Soprano Pretty Yende (soon to be a Met Rosina) guests on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show at 11:35 this evening.

Stone soup Stone soup

“A case of histronic personality disorder a deux.”

I come from old Hong Kong, but now I’m a Hollywood star I come from old Hong Kong, but now I’m a Hollywood star

Born on this day in 1905 actress Anna May Wong.

Conspicuous consumption Conspicuous consumption

A classic 1974 New York City Opera La traviata with Beverly Sills, John Stewart and Dominic Cossa conducted by Julius Rudel.

A refusal of nature as a model is a tradition that goes right back to Oscar Wilde A refusal of nature as a model is a tradition that goes right back to Oscar Wilde

Happy 55th birthday film director, screenwriter, and producer Todd Haynes.

Foolish love Foolish love

The Met ushers out this wretched year and rings in the new with an elegant and effective new production of Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette.