I’ll fry tomorrow
According to an ancient American legend, on this day in 1896 the Chinese-American dish chop suey was created in New York City by the Cantonese chef of Chinese Ambassador Li Hung-Chang.
Recent Stories
Mobbed by matinee girls
“She was literally mobbed by matinee girls of Berlin, and it required the efforts of a dozen policemen to rescue Miss Farrar from her young admirers.”
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).
Schwann catalog
On this day in 1850 Richard Wagner‘s romantic opera Lohengrin premiered at Weimar, conducted by Franz Liszt.
It’s just one letter, but it makes a vas deferens
“But enough about Lou Tellegen,” Miss Farrar snapped.
And all he said was “woof”
On this day in 1665 Ye Bare & Ye Cubb became the first play performed in North America (at Acomac, VA.)
Grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish
On this day in 1498 Michelangelo was commissioned to carve the Pietà.
Forward three and a half in the tuck position
“What perhaps allowed me to hear past the surface of Cold Mountain was access to a piano-reduction score while the piece was still being written—a copy I discovered in a Dumpster near Higdon’s Philadelphia apartment, discarded only because it was misformatted.”
Invitation to the trance
“To mark the book’s publication, and to manifest the spirit of linguistic improvisation, Koestenbaum will perform piano miniatures (Scriabin, Chopin, Fauré, Milhaud, Poulenc) while incanting spontaneous Sprechstimme-style soliloquies.”
It’s a new world
On this day in 1718 French colonists in Louisiana established a settlement named for the Duc d’Orléans, which would later become the city of New Orleans.
Tweet charity
La Cieca is positively brimming with excitement to bring you an exclusive interview with @FakeNLebrecht, connoisseur of sick notes, writer of fiction and obituaries.
You stepped out of a dream
One of opera’s great “what ifs?” is what would young Erich Wolfgang Korngold have contributed to the repertoire had the likes of The Adventures of Robin Hood not beckoned him to Hollywood?
Junk science
On this day in 1853 the first potato chips were prepared by chef George Crum in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Shave and a haircut
It’s fun to wonder what might have happened if Rossini had never composed Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Would Giovanni Paisiello’s earlier adaptation of the work be a repertory favorite? Or would it have faded into obscurity with an occasional revival here and there?
Do you like movies about gladiators?
On this day in 1834 Mount Vesuvius erupted.
This is the end of the news
On this day in 1945 Noel Coward‘s revue Sigh No More premiered in London.
A beautiful vision
“She sounds the note of deep pathos in both action and song convincingly, and last night won the tribute of tears from many eyes.”
Sea-sound, like violins
Happy 81st birthday mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker.
“That goes without saying”
“Wolfram von Eschenbach is played by the up and coming German baritone Daniel Schmutzhard.”
Leave it to Jane
Jamie Barton will add a new role to her Met repertory this season when she sings Giovanna Seymour in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena.
Sister act
On this day in 1828 Gioacchino Rossini‘s opera Le Comte Ory premiered in Paris.
It’s good to be the king
On this day in 1772 Gustav III seized effective control of the Swedish government and restored the full power of the monarchy, which had been subordinate to parliament since 1720.
Now laughing friends deride tears I cannot hide
Born on this day in 1873 lyricist Otto Harbach.
Superglottal
In attempting to get a little bit of everything onto my Mixcloud page, I realized that I inadvertently neglected some essentials: 1) Leyla Gencer 2) La Gioconda.