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As dear Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (not pictured) said on at least one occasion, “Und ich habe, mein Lieber, wieder bei diesem kleinen Geschäft gefunden, dass Missverständnisse und Trägheit vielleicht mehr Irrungen in der Welt machen als List und Bosheit. Wenigstens sind die beiden letzteren gewiss seltener.”
As if Juan Diego Florez in a Seinfeldian puffy shirt were not festive enough, Vesselina Kasarova and Michele Pertusi also star in L’italiana in Algeri.
Which stage director—who, incidentally, has a smash hit on Broadway at the moment—has been blackballed from at least two return engagements at the Met because of a kerfuffle with a conductor?
Maestro Christian Thielemann has made his choice for Lohengrin casting in Dresden and, later, Bayreuth: “Anna Netrebko als Elsa und Piotr Beczala in der Titelpartie.”
Though our gypsy friend Carmen may not puff cigarettes in Australia, nothing will prevent the cher public from blowing smoke about off-topic and general interest subjects.
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
With Gustavo Dudamel in the spotlight at Parterre Box this week, Grand Tier Grab Bag foreshadows one of the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming operatic engagements.
Passion propels more operas than almost any other human emotion; however, many musical dramas have a very different sort of passion—the final days of Jesus—as their subject.
While studying Un ballo in maschera for my Vienna role debut next January, I came across this beautiful ‘Ecco l’orrido campo’ amazingly performed by Montserrat Caballé.
The rediscovery of Franco Faccio’s Amleto, a curious score that last week, via Baltimore Concert Opera, received its first performances since 1871, reminds us just how tough an act Giuseppe Verdi was to follow.
When Richard Wagner reached into the past and revised Gluck’s Iphigénie en Aulide, he went beyond the accepted boundaries of tinkering and more or less created a new work that’s fomented aesthetic debates ever since.
The big news out of the Bay this week, of course, is that David Gockley, after ten years at the helm here and over forty in opera, has decided not to pull a Bloomberg/Galupe-Borszkh.
Unfiltered speech
As dear Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (not pictured) said on at least one occasion, “Und ich habe, mein Lieber, wieder bei diesem kleinen Geschäft gefunden, dass Missverständnisse und Trägheit vielleicht mehr Irrungen in der Welt machen als List und Bosheit. Wenigstens sind die beiden letzteren gewiss seltener.”
Muy Lindoro
As if Juan Diego Florez in a Seinfeldian puffy shirt were not festive enough, Vesselina Kasarova and Michele Pertusi also star in L’italiana in Algeri.
Helping hand
On this day in 1917 American puppeteer Burr Tillstrom was born.
Top of the heap
You will be happy to hear that Michael Fabiano was the unrivaled star of the Richard Tucker Foundation Gala tonight.
Strike me blind
Which stage director—who, incidentally, has a smash hit on Broadway at the moment—has been blackballed from at least two return engagements at the Met because of a kerfuffle with a conductor?
Seligsten Paar
Maestro Christian Thielemann has made his choice for Lohengrin casting in Dresden and, later, Bayreuth: “Anna Netrebko als Elsa und Piotr Beczala in der Titelpartie.”
Défense de fumer
Though our gypsy friend Carmen may not puff cigarettes in Australia, nothing will prevent the cher public from blowing smoke about off-topic and general interest subjects.
A long long way to run
On this day in 490 BC, the Athenians and their Plataean allies defeated the first Persian invasion force of Greece at the Battle of Marathon.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Grand Tier Grab Bag
When they go low
Nostalgic for bass month, Parterre Box offers excerpts from two young basses to watch: Giorgi Manoshvili and Patrick Guetti.
Nailin’ the coughin’
Rosa Feola, still scheduled for a run of performances as Violetta in New York this spring, is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Landing the plane
With Nixon, Klinghoffer, and Andris Nelsons on the mind, Parterre Box offers a recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent John Adams outing.
Le galant tireur
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
My 600 performance life
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
Life imitates art
With Gustavo Dudamel in the spotlight at Parterre Box this week, Grand Tier Grab Bag foreshadows one of the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming operatic engagements.
Aubade
On this day in 1957, Welsh actress and screenwriter Dawn French was born.
Myth opportunity
America hasn’t exactly been vigorous about commemorating the 250th anniversary of the death of Jean-Philippe Rameau.
The wrath of hell
Protean Meryl Streep is in talks to film a biopic about a legendary diva. No, not that one: Florence Foster Jenkins.
Amme let you finish
On this day in 1919, Die Frau ohne Schatten premiered in Vienna.
Black, box
Passion propels more operas than almost any other human emotion; however, many musical dramas have a very different sort of passion—the final days of Jesus—as their subject.
It’s my story and I’m sticking to it
On this day in 1890, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was born.
“Title roles for $600, Alex”
“Heppner will play the three roles in Titanic, including Isidor Straus, a prominent U.S. politician and businessman who goes down with the ship.”
Stubble in paradise
Tenor Michael Fabiano reportedly tore the place down tonight at WQXR’s Greene Space.
Talk of the Town
A favorite Verdi performance from Marina Rebeka
While studying Un ballo in maschera for my Vienna role debut next January, I came across this beautiful ‘Ecco l’orrido campo’ amazingly performed by Montserrat Caballé.
Thoughts on Lieder by Konstantin Krimmel
“You’re your own boss.”
A favorite art song performance from Niel Rishoi
Hans Hotter masterfully captures the poignancy of this sublime Brahms Lied.
A favorite art song performance from Arrigo
While refined, Lisa della Casa sings “Four Last Songs” deeply alert to the text and with effortless vocalization that sounds fresh and spontaneous.
A favorite art song performance from Belfagor
Funnily enough, I’m not remotely a Rachmaninov fan, but this performance by Galina Vishnevskaya in her considerable prime always gives me the chills.
A favorite art song performance from Rowna Sutin
With youthful abandon, Ms. Feola interprets an old chestnut.
Girls! Gags! Tunes!
On this day in 1979, the revue Sugar Babies opened at Mark Hellinger Theater, to run 1208 performances.
Sweet prince
The rediscovery of Franco Faccio’s Amleto, a curious score that last week, via Baltimore Concert Opera, received its first performances since 1871, reminds us just how tough an act Giuseppe Verdi was to follow.
Everything is holy!
On this day in 1955, American poet Allen Ginsberg performed his poem “Howl” for the first time at the Six Gallery in San Francisco.
No such Gluck
When Richard Wagner reached into the past and revised Gluck’s Iphigénie en Aulide, he went beyond the accepted boundaries of tinkering and more or less created a new work that’s fomented aesthetic debates ever since.
La commedia è finita
Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin has outdone herself this week, presenting a nostalgic pairing of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci.
Run of the mill
On this day in 1889, the Moulin Rouge opened in Paris.
“It’s scary, but what can you do?”
“Ms. Netrebko, 43, spoke about her willingness to take risks…”
Stockholm syndrome
The big news out of the Bay this week, of course, is that David Gockley, after ten years at the helm here and over forty in opera, has decided not to pull a Bloomberg/Galupe-Borszkh.
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