Froh und freudig führe frei ich nun aus
On this day in 1876 the music drama Siegfried premiered in Bayreuth.
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What bloody man is that?
On this day in 1040 King Duncan I of Scotland was killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth (not, as per Shakespeare’s play, murdered in his sleep.)
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).
“On dirait une fleur nouvelle qui s’épanouit au matin!”
The reviews for Geraldine Farrar‘s Metropolitan Opera debut (Opening Night of the 1906-1907 season) could almost have been written by her own mother.
Sure of all the things we got
On this day in 1965 (i.e., 50 years ago), Sonny & Cher‘s “I Got You Babe” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Torch passed
The Metropolitan Opera just announced that Mary Jo Heath, who has worked as a producer and guest host for the company over the past nine seasons, will become the fourth full-time radio host in the company’s history this September.
No object sure before was ever half so pleasing
Happy 67th birthday soprano Kathleen Battle.
Everything is illuminated
Few new operas have received the near-unanimous acclaim that has greeted Written on Skin since its first performance at the 2012 Aix-en-Provence Festival.
One percent inspiration
On this day in 1877, Thomas Edison invented the “Edisonphone,” an early phonograph.
Brand new key
On this day in 1866 the world’s roller rink opened, in Newport, Rhode Island.
Lions, shared
La Cieca is delighted to announce that the video of the Glyndebourne production of Donizetti’s Poliuto will be streamed beginning Sunday, August 16th at noon EDT.
None shall sleep
Yusif Eyvazov will make his Met debut singing the role of Calàf in the performances of Puccini’s Turandot on November 7 matinee and November 12.
A fjord in her future
Anja Silja staked a claim as a leading Senta of her era with a series of searing performances of Der Fliegende Holländer while in her early twenties.
Street cred
I have been remiss in posting works of important 20th century composers, tops among them Hanz Werner Henze, a name which sends most opera fans running for the exits.
Smile!
On this day in 1948 Allen Funt‘s Candid Camera debuted.
From the depths
I was greatly anticipating Karita Mattila’s recital on Friday in Toronto’s Koerner Hall.
Gad, sir!
“The British like good tunes, not pretentious noise.”
I couldn’t aspire to anything higher
On this day in 1930 Betty Boop first appeared in Max Fleischer‘s animated cartoon “Dizzy Dishes.”
We gotta go
On this day in in 1963, the Kingsmen released “Louie, Louie”, later the subject of a two-year investigation by the FBI on the charge of obscenity.
Long ago and Farrar away
Geraldine Farrar has gone and the Gerry-flappers are disconsolate.
Ne plus ultra
When LaCieca asked me to choose my favorite live recording, I had to think… and think.
Helen is always willing
On this day in 1954 the musical The Golden Apple closed at the Alvin Theater after 125 performances.
The best is yet to come
The CD explosion coincided with an enormous increase in interest in HIP (historically informed performance) so now there were lots of commercial recordings of the sort of operas I had turned to pirates to find.