A door opens
On this day in 1895 the Lumière brothers held the first commercial film screening at Salon Indien du Grand Café, Paris.
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You never seen a show like this before!
On this day in 1927 the musical play Show Boat opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway.
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).
Moody’s blues
Last week, Moody’s Investor Services delivered yet another piece of yet another piece of bad news for the Metropolitan Opera.
My shining hour
On this day in 1898, Pierre and Marie Curie announced the isolation of radium.
“This is the effective part, where I turn and sell it with a look!”
“…the dialogue, not to mention the dancing, will offer a truly new showcase for Ms. Fleming’s abilities.”
Radio days
On this day in 1931, the Metropolitan Opera offered the first installment of its matinee radio broadcast series.
Milk punch
On this day in 1826, the Eggnog Riot began at the United States Military Academy.
Orange is the new spinto
Opera star Montserrat Caballé has reached a deal with the public prosecutor to receive a six-month prison sentence and a €240,000 fine for defrauding the Spanish tax office.
“I meant to do that”
What does rankle your doyenne is the “Special Freddie” awarded to Christine Goerke, whose response is, well, perhaps a trifle less than completely ingenuous.
Am I that easy to forget?
On this day in 1893 the opera Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck was first performed.
Extra! Extra! They’re drawing a red line around the biggest scoop of the decade!
America’s own Renée Fleming (“Eight-lane-highway broad!”- New York Times) is going to plant her own tree on Broadway in the spring of 2015.
Saxon violence
His shaved head in striking contrast to his dark beard and glinting eyes, the implacable Tartar conqueror glowers at us from the CD cover, while the uncropped photo of countertenor Xavier Sabata (above) is even more disturbing, featuring his raised fist and forearm tightly wrapped in a leather belt.
Unheard prayers
Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin gets serious for a moment, or rather for about an hour and a half, with a performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis led by Christian Thielemann.
Scandal
On this day 1894 the “Dreyfus Affair” began in France with Alfred Dreyfus’ wrongful conviction for treason.
Enter laughing
On this day in 1914, Tillie’s Punctured Romance, the first feature-length film comedy, was released.
Serious business
La Cieca (left) reminds her cher public that it is time once again for conversation about off-topic and general interest discussion on the very important and weighty subject of The Opera.
Lovely to look at
On this day in 1898 American actress and singer Irene Dunne was born.
Mon coeur s’est calmé!
On this day in 1881, Massenet’s Hérodiade premiered in Brussels.
Mystery guests
Perhaps what was most exciting about last week at the Met was that there was nothing conventionally “special” going on.
Son souvenir vivra parmi les âges
On this day in 218 BC, in the Battle of the Trebia of the Second Punic War, Hannibal’s Carthaginian forces defeated those of the Roman Republic.
Lost and found
Verdi must have gotten tired of tossing and turning by now and has gone back to resting in peace.
Let’s make it regal
Having heard a bit of the opening night broadcast and read some decidedly mixed reviews, I was totally unprepared for the remarkable performance of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena that I attended on December 15 at Chicago Lyric Opera.
Hot ticket
On this day in 1965, the first concert was presented in Houston’s Astrodome.