Royals
On this day Queen Elizabeth II becomes Great Britain’s becomes longest-reigning monarch.
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La mess héroïque
On this day in 1953 the musical Carnival in Flanders opened at the New Century Theater in New York, to run six 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).
Moor than a feeling
While Bernard Herrmann is remembered primarily for the seven films on which he collaborated with Hitchcock, he also composed one opera: Wuthering Heights, written between 1943 and 1951.
Five oh!
You know what they all said: “At this rate, she’ll never make it to 50.”
Seria business
On this day in 1791 Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito premiered in Prague.
One Million Years B.C.
Happy 75th birthday actress Raquel Welch.
An isle of joy
On this day in 1609 navigator Henry Hudson became the first European to discover the island of Manhattan.
True verismo
Jonas Kaufmann’s new Puccini album (the new one on Sony, not the repackaged one on Decca) is being previewed by NPR.
Hart and soul
Born on this day in 1910 actress and television personality Kitty Carlisle.
Phases of the moon
Dmitri Hvorostovsky has withdrawn from three performances of Verdi’s Il Trovatore at the Met this season, on October 7, 10, and 17.
Dinner for schmuck
In celebration of the impending retirement of San Francisco Opera’s head honcho David Gockley, La Cieca proposed a quick midweek competition, with a first prize of not having dinner with San Francisco Opera’s head honcho David Gockley.
Summer nights
“Those kids in Bushwick have this opera thing figured out.”
Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s
On this day in 44 BC Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt declared her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion.
I’m the greatest star
What better way to prepare for the exciting impending season than to salute our sponsor for September, Carnegie Hall?
A gracious good morning to you
On this day in 1878, the first female telephone operator, Emma Nutt (not pictured) started work in Boston.
And another thing!
Manuela Hoelterhoff is retiring from Bloomberg News.
Tanks a lot, but no tanks
The production by Sebastian Baumgarten is the type of regietheater that’s not a rethinking or reconstruction, but just a hot mess.
Cherubino jumps the shark
Homer, inspired by many a muse, sang not of sequels to his Iliad.
Stage beauty
Since the 1916 version of Ariadne auf Naxos which we all know and love had its premiere at Wiener Staatsoper, it seems most appropriate to bring you this 1967 performance from the same venue, with a legendary cast at its zenith.
Throne for a loop
On this day in 1056 Empress Theodora became ill, dying suddenly a few days later, without children to succeed the throne, ending the Macedonian dynasty.
Anna behind bars
Anna Netrebko adds yet another veristic aria to her burgeoning repertoire: “L’altra notte in fondo al mare” from Boito’s Mefistofele.
It was a dark and stormy night
Born on this day in 1797 author Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley.
Summer of love
In just two years, Brooklyn’s LoftOpera has rapidly established itself as a bracing, essential addition to New York City’s musical life.