Separated at “Birth of the Blues”
Judy Garland singing “Swanee River” and Ian Bostridge singing “Curlew River.”
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An “Affair” to remember
Janácek mavens, Bayerische Staatsoper devotees and Pavel Cernoch groupies alike will be glued to their monitors this afternoon when Vec Makropulos is webcast live from Munich starting at 1:00 PM.
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).
Ottoman and woman
“With radiant looks, we shall depart this world,” sing Konstanze and Belmonte near the end of Mozart’s exotic yet charming opera Singspiel Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
Number one with a bullet
On this day in 1894, Thomas Edison filmed American sharpshooter Annie Oakley, leading to her hiring by Buffalo Bill for his Wild West Show.
A bulwark never failing
On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.
Side eye and bitch face
At the first intermission at last night’s Met revival of Aida, I turned to my companion and said, “So… what about the Aida? I thought she was supposed to be good.”
Prison riot
Herbert von Karajan once said listening to some of his old recordings made him envy painters who could simply burn the pictures they disliked.
Red shoe diaries
Sonya Yoncheva will make her North American role debut as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Met this January.
What’s seen cannot be unseen
Which Met superstar—who’s no stranger to blind items this season—is the first to accede to the Met’s suggestion of a fee reduction of 7% for principal artists in upcoming seasons?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Just in time for Halloween, Decca Classics has released the trailer for the upcoming CD Renée Fleming: Christmas in New York.
Cold comfort
On this day in 1952 Clarence Birdseye sold the first frozen peas.
For the ladies
On this day in 1787, Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni received its first performance in Prague.
“Rachel, please, it can’t matter to you!”
Finally the mystery has been solved: glamorous Joyce DiDonato and mousy Rachel DiDonato (pictured, left to right) are really the same person!
The lady with the torch
On this day in 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
In witch we serve
Sunday afternoon’s intermittently involving concert performance of Handel’s Alcina at Carnegie Hall starred an unusually intense Joyce DiDonato as a powerful sorceress blinded by her romantic delusions.
Mezzo piano
This week’s contribution from Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin is a more intimate one, sort of: a recital by Dame Gwyneth Jones.
Solidus citizen
On this day in 312, Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.
La voix de l’Empereur!
On this day in 1520, Charles V, later Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned King of Germany.
Two on the aisle
La Cieca hopes that even the less celebrated attendees at this week’s intermission feature will feel free to commment on off-topic and general interest subjects.
Get hep!
On this day in 1938, the Archbishop of Dubuque, Francis J. L. Beckman, denounced swing music.
Vissi d’artist
The San Francisco Opera is batting a thousand where young singers are concerned this season.
The magic sniff
On this day in 1947 American actor Kevin Kline was born.