Tales that witness madness
Jacques Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann has had a bumpy ride to its pride of position in the current French repertoire.
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The long and winding road
In her debut solo album, Jamie Barton surrounds Gustav Mahler’s staples of the song repertoire, Rückert Lieder, with the less familiar Gypsy Songs of Antonin Dvorák and select songs by Jean Sibelius.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
Art is a barren route, of which glory is the oasis
Born on this day in 1822 novelist Henry Murger.
By Krauss
Born on this day in 1894 soprano Viorica Ursuleac.
Broadcast: Idomeneo
Settle in for an afternoon of opera seria, cher public, and chat as you will in the comments section of this post.
Hier gelt’s der Kunst
Our friends at Opera Depot are in a Wagnerian mood.
Our dancing daughter
Born on this day in 1904 or thereabouts actress Joan Crawford.
Something feverish
Born on this day in 1808 soprano Maria Malibran.
Donna son io, signore, ed in mia casa
Though none of the three performances of Anna Netrebko’s Traviata at La Scala was broadcast, an in-house in decent sound has surfaced.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
I got through all of last year, and I’m here
“James Jorden always wanted to direct, but when he first moved to New York the closest he could get to the stage was in a low-paying job sweeping up bobby pins.”
Only connect…
Anna Caterina Antonacci delivered a tour de force of French diction, subtlety of phrasing, variation of vocal timbre, and white-hot stage acting.
The most dangerous game
“Trove Thursday” presents a recording of the rare L’Olimpiade featuring Joan Caplan and Rita Shane in the two leading castrato roles.
Come un bel dì di marzo
On this day in 1896 Giordano’s Andrea Chenier premiered in Milan.
Blood will be flung
For those of you who missed the live webcast of Rossini’s Otello last weekend (and for those of you who want to see it again.)
Even my first name would be preferable
On this day in 1962 Harold Rome’s musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale opened on Broadway.
She has immortal longings in her
All right, folks, if you’re going to troll La Cieca, you might try just a little subtlety.
Jessye’s accessories
“The famed opera and concert singer Jessye Norman is moving from her gracious country home, White Gates…”
No more doubt or fear
Born on this day in 1923 musical director and conductor Mort Lindsey.
Tragedy in song
LoftOpera’s Saturday night performance of Rossini’s Otello successfully appealed to the essential kinetic energy of the operatic art form.
Seconda la commedia, sta cheto e lascia far
It’s been said that the final installment of the great trio of bel canto comedies is Don Pasquale, following Il barbiere di Siviglia and L’elisir d’amore.
A minority may be right, and a majority is always wrong
Born on this day in 1828 dramatist Henrik Ibsen.
This world’s waited long enough
Happy 70th birthday actress Glenn Close.
