Scary stories to tell in the dark
On this day in 1954 Britten‘s Turn of the Screw premiered in Venice
Recent Stories
In the middle, somewhat depressed
It was as though they had released us from an enchantment and we all woke up giggling and surprisingly well rested.
Stelle! Dei! Nume d’amore!
Born on this day in 1939 soprano Arleen Augér
It’s going to be a lovely party
Overall, this was a superb achievement and a thrilling season opener for the San Francisco Opera.
La regina ambita non è più da me
Born on this day in 1938 mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos
Back over the rainbow bridge
“Let’s start at the very beginning” of Kent Nagano’s pioneering complete Ring project which was recently discussed here in depth in Montagu James’s review of Die Walküre.
Urbi et Orbelian
One day after the announcement that General Director Michael Capasso is retiring, New York City Opera announces the “installation” of Music Director and Principal Conductor Constantine Orbelian as Executive Director.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Douglas Boyd conducts the Garsington Opera company in a live Proms performance featuring Iestyn Davies, Lucy Crowe, Richard Burkhard, Caspar Singh, James Newby, Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Camilla Harris, Nicholas Crawley, and Christine Rice
La folle journée d’Antoine
But pressing questions remains: Why? Who is this Figaro for?
Jewel tones
On this day in 1838 Berlioz‘s Benvenuto Cellini premiered in Paris
Incapassotated
Michael Capasso, General Director of the enfeebled remains of New York City Opera, announces his retirement
Just haven’t met you yet
Born on this day in 1828 writer Lev Nikolayevich “Leo” Tolstoy
Czeching the box
Born on this day in 1841 composer Antonín Dvorak
The Queen of Spades
Brandon Jovanovich, Asmik Grigorian, Roman Burdenko, Boris Pinkhasovich, Violeta Urmana, and Victoria Karkacheva in a performance lead by Aziz Shokhakimov recorded earlier this year in Munich
Germoglia in un vaso una rosa
Happy 59th birthday soprano Angela Gheorghiu
Text and ach
Unlike more surface-level historically informed practice which has become the norm in early music ensembles, this project stands out in its surprisingly deep engagements with the ethical and practical challenges posed by “recreating” Wagner’s sound.
The emperor strikes back
On this day in 1791 Mozart‘s La clemenza di Tito premiered in Prague
Stage animal control
Following Gundula Janowitz and Janet Baker, Chris’s Cache sends birthday greetings to another favorite diva—Karita Matilla—with a quartet of broadcasts.
Splitting heirs
Happy 64th birthday soprano Karita Mattila
Edible arrangements
Two experimental new works from thingNY explore decadence, quarantine, digestion, and lineage at The Exponential Festival.
I love it when you call me big Pape
Happy 60th birthday bass René Pape
Found in mint condition
Only by knowing what went on around the great composers is it possible to truly understand why they are great and why their operas have come down to us (and why dozens of other titles have been left behind).
Hart and soul
Born on this day in 1910 singer and actress Kitty Carlisle Hart