Himself when young Himself when young

This week features Roger Norrington leading a December 2006 performance of Berlioz/ Enfance du Christ  from Berlin

The impresaria The impresaria

Born on this day in 1900 soprano and Glyndebourne founder Audrey Mildmay.

His puzzler was sore His puzzler was sore

On this day in 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas, based on the story by Dr. Seuss, aired for the first time on CBS.

There’s no place like dome There’s no place like dome

On this day in 1965 the Astrodome opened.

Chat: Salome Chat: Salome

Welcome to La Casa della Cieca for the matinee of Salome starting at the Met at 1:00 pm on Saturday, cher public. Please be sure to read the notice after the jump.

But you don’t really care for music, Du ja? But you don’t really care for music, Du ja?

“Hallelujah” will kick off this year’s annual holiday concert in The Imperial City, presumably sung by the event’s headliners, Vesselina Kasarova and Angela Denoke.

Wave theory Wave theory

Scribe/saxophonist Will Robin (not pictured) surveys some of the many women who are making opera these days.

I love criticism just so long as it’s unqualified praise I love criticism just so long as it’s unqualified praise

Born on this day in 1899 composer, playwright and actor Noel Coward.

Diva, unfiltered Diva, unfiltered

How many books have been published about Anna Maria Sofia Cecilia Kalogeropoulou Meneghini Callas, great operatic goddess of the dark arts?

Evergreen Evergreen

Happy 99th birthday soprano Hilde Zadek.

Trifecta of horror Trifecta of horror

Jackie Evancho! Andrea Bocelli! Donald Trump! I mean, what else do you want, a Zuni fetish doll eviscerating Karen Black?

I had a vision of love I had a vision of love

On this day in 1918 Puccini’s Il Trittico premiered at the Metropolitan Opera.

Wo ist Salome? Wo ist Salome?

Kirsten Chambers will make her Met debut in the title role of this evening’s performance of Strauss’s Salome, replacing Patricia Racette, who is ill.

Noblesse her heart Noblesse her heart

“Being a wife, being a mother, entertaining in the summer, doing the pheasant shoots in the winter.”

Conversion narrative Conversion narrative

Blood-and-guts singing is the reason to see Nabucco at the Metropolitan Opera this season.

Sulla tua testa vigili la mia benedizion Sulla tua testa vigili la mia benedizion

President-elect Donald Trump has approached crooner Andrea Bocelli to sing at his inauguration.

Drunk to me only with thine eyes Drunk to me only with thine eyes

On this day in 1970, Neil Simon’s comedy The Gingerbread Lady opened at the Plymouth Theatre, to run 193 performances.

Chat: Nabucco Chat: Nabucco

Nabucco opens tonight.

One can feel nostalgia for places one has never seen One can feel nostalgia for places one has never seen

Composer Lisa Bielawa’s Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch’s Accuser will feature world-renowned opera star Deborah Voigt singing “The Queen of Sweden.”

Will you tell me what it’s all for? Will you tell me what it’s all for?

“Good God—an adult musical!”

Wearing of the green Wearing of the green

On this day in 1964 filming began for the first Star Trek pilot “The Cage.”

Broadway baby Broadway baby

On this day in 1960 the Cy Coleman musical Wildcat opened on Broadway.

Chat: L’amour de loin Chat: L’amour de loin

Near, far, wherever you are, you can enjoy today’s 1:00 PM Met broadcast of L’Amour de Loin.

Soprano fegato Soprano fegato

“It appears that 12.5 million Italians watched the liver relay of the original version of Madam Butterfly from La Scala,” claims Norman Lebrecht, which is perfectly accurate except that there was no organ meat involved in the telecast.