The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that’s the way to bet
Born on this day in 1880 journalist and writer Damon Runyon.
Recent Stories
Strike up the banned
Jonny spielt auf, the second opera by 26-year-old composer Ernest K?enek, was such a huge success after its 1927 Leipzig premiere that in the following season it was performed 491 times in Germany alone.
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!
What kind of fool I am
On this day in 1962 the Leslie Bricuse–Anthony Newley musical Stop the World I Want to Get Off opened on Broadway.
Good evening
On this day in 1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents premiered.
Thursday’s child
Theater Basel offers its first livestream ever, of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s rarely performed Donnerstag aus Licht.
Wish I may
On this day in 1941 the Hugh Martin–Ralph Blane musical Best Foot Forward opened on Broadway.
Poet manqué
“Jonas Kaufmann est contraint de se retirer de la production des Contes d’Hoffmann à l’Opéra Bastille.”
How the quest was won
On this day in 1791 Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte premiered in Vienna.
Geopolitics Italian style
How Verdi’s opera might address this particular nightmare was unclear.
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 am not carefree
Born on this day in 1942 singer and actress Madeline Kahn.
An uncommon waitress
On this day in 1945 Mildred Price opened at the Strand Theatre in New York City.
No view from the bridge
Mariusz Trelinski unveiled a rather gloomy, though musically satisfying, Tristan und Isolde.
Keep the Rome fires burning
I offer an alternative to those who aren’t fans of Wagner: Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito from the house where it premiered.
No day but today
Happy 59th birthday opera director Peter Sellars.
New waves
Missy Mazzoli, a 36-year-old composer from Brooklyn, has created the most startling and moving new American opera in memory.
Così fan typos
“In this offbeat production, Guglielmo and Ferrando disguise themselves as Van Johnson and Van Heflin, respectively.”
Chat: Tristan und Isolde
As afternoon fades into evening, confide in each other, cher public, in La Casa della Cieca.
Comeback thane
The characters get right down to work immediately with their foul deeds.
Life is a lot like jazz
Born on this day in 1898 composer George Gershwin.
The upper depths
The Teatro di San Carlo in Naples is a pearl itself and this presentation proffers some of the best that company has to offer.
