Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
On this day in 1910 Engelbert Humperdinck‘s ‘other’ opera Königskinder premiered at the Met
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È tanto cara
Born on this day in 1882 soprano and teacher Elvira de Hidalgo
Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici
cher public is reminded one final time to contribute to our new regular feature before it launches on Wednesday
Audiences expect miracles
Following a review by Christopher Corwin, figures from in and around the box react to Pablo Larraín‘s new film Maria
Un giorno rendimi de’ miei primi anni
On this day in 1830 Donizetti‘s Anna Bolena premiered in Milan
The promise of ages
Merry Christmas and happy first night of Chanukah, Parterrians!
Quand sur la plage
What can you say, other than that everything was fab?
Have you seen a child?
On this night in 1951 Menotti‘s Amahl and the Night Visitors premiered on television
Singing from our chains
There are two problems to address – problems of the sort the arts thrive on addressing.
I want candy
On this day in 1893 Humperdinck‘s Hansel und Gretel premiered in Weimar
Ecco l’artista!
Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini
Les Contes d’Hoffmann
A performance starring Juan Diego Flórez recorded earlier this fall in London
You can’t keep a good girl down
On this day in 1921 Jerome Kern’s Sally produced by Ziegfeld on Broadway
Birds, bears, and based boyfriends
While the Met’s Mozart-lite holiday production of The Magic Flute kept the eyes entertained with spectacular sets and costumes, the scattershot casting and lack of musical seriousness dragged down this opera for beginners.
New kids from the bloc
If song recitals by opera stars Piotr Beczala and Asmik Grigorian sometimes came up short, Semyon Bychkov’s powerful rendition of the Glagolitic Mass instantly became one of the year’s highlights.
Boat against the tide
Happy 86th birthday composer John Harbison
Ethiopian blends
Anticipating the first new local Aïda in thirty-six years, Chris’s Cache revisits Verdi’s popular opera in four unusually interesting in-house recordings from the Met 1961-1976.
Peu m’importe si tu m’aimes
Born on this day in 1915 singer Edith Piaf
Anna Caterina Antonacci
An intriguing recital program live from Rome with Donald Sulzen
Let’s get metaphysical
Last Thursday evening, pure virtuosity was on display at the Veterans’ Room of the Park Avenue Armory, courtesy of soprano Barbara Hannigan and pianist Bertrand Chamayou.
Streich the harp and join the chorus
Born on this day in 1920 soprano Rita Streich with music for the holidays