Slice of life
Washington National Opera presented the fourth annual installment of its “American Opera Initiative” series in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater Wednesday evening.
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Off with the show
On this day in 1954 the floperetta Hit the Trail closed at Mark Hellinger Theater after four performances.
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).
“It’s been a lot of fun”
“Joyce DiDonato and Rufus Wainwright will discuss a variety of topics…”
Out of the pastorale
“Trove Thursday” returns with an unbeatable combination: Janet Baker and Handel.
Yes, Mother
On this day in 1993, the first issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine was published.
You’re the pants on a Roxy usher
Count on the New York Times to include in a photo caption all the information you really wanted to know.
Journey to Italy
Since its founding 20 years ago, Washington, DC-based Opera Lafayette has devoted its considerable imagination and energy to reviving lesser-known 17th and 18th century French operas.
November reign
A readers’ discussion of Gaetano Donizetti garnered the most pageviews of any parterre posting in November.
Venez tous, c’est une fête!
On this day in 1840 Gaetano Donizetti’s opera La Favorite premiered at the Académie Royale de Musique in Paris.
In the bleak midwinter
La Cieca invites you, the cher public, to give a round of applause to our beloved sponsors for the month of December.
Working girl’s frug
On this day in 1968, the musical Promises Promises opened at the Shubert Theater, to run 1,281 performances.
This will simply sleigh you, dear
If only there were a way to make the onerous (yet necessary) task of holiday shopping just a bit easier!
Stranger in paradise
A while back, there was a great outcry for some Meyerbeer…
Call me madame
On this day in 1955, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Pipe Dream, starring Helen Traubel as the proprietress of a small-town brothel, opened at Shubert Theater to run 245 performances.
Queens’ throat
Born on this day in 1797 composer Gaetano Donizetti.
I gave my love a cherry that had no tone
Rufus (Prima Donna) Wainwright sinks his teeth into a little Mascagni, partnered by a very game Sarah Fox.
Busyness as usual
Emilio Sagi’s production of The Barber of Seville is ungepotchket in the flesh.
Branching out
Born on this day in 1881 Austrian author Stefan Zweig,
The Abominable Showman
Born on this day in 1903 Broadway impresario David Merrick.
Chiamo il mio ben così
Congratulations to Leitbreite, whose cunning ears identified all but one of the singers in last week’s “Orpheus” quiz.
Wahn for a day
Die Meistersinger is a bold stroke of programming, in a not particularly exciting way.
Half a million marks
Unlike my friend Greg Freed, who entertainingly wrote of his ambivalence about seeing Il trovatore in a movie theater this season, I have embraced the Met Live in HD transmissions as a part of the modern operagoing experience.