Angel on my shoulder
Born on this day in 1923 soprano Victoria de los Angeles
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The chimes of midnight
Aside from a tour with the LSO this spring, this was, I believe, the only time Antonio Pappano would be conducting in the US this season. This made the concert at Symphony Hall a real treat.
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).
Draculette reborn
Happy was I to attend the Celebrity Opera Series presentation Saturday night at BroadStage, mere blocks from my humble abode in Santa Monica as Anglela Gheorghiu was making an eagerly awaited return for the first time since her debut here in 2013.
Delle tombe il gemito tre volte a me parlò
Happy Halloween, Parterrians!
Every Wally shall be exalted
Once again inspired by Harry’s verismo tract, Chris’s Cache unleashes a La Wally avalanche of complete performances of Alfredo Catalani’s opera featuring Renata Tebaldi, Magda Olivero, Carol Neblett, Stefka Evstatieva, and Eva-Maria Westbroek in the title role.
Which witch is which?
Stephen Schwartz‘s Wicked premiered on this day in 2003
Jailbird song
If Zambello’s season-ending Turandot last year represented some of the best of what WNO can offer in the standard rep, this Fidelio was a regression to the mean.
Castanet diva
Lisette Oropesa, a product of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, has not been seen much on the stage of the Met in recent seasons.
Under the mistletoe
On this day in 1956 La Divina made her Met debut as Norma
Five of a kind
Rare is the revival of Il trovatore that boasts five first-rate singers, and such an occasion should be treasured. And so, at the Met last Saturday, it was.
Knight shift
On this day in 1961 tenor Sandor Konya made his Met debut as Lohengrin. Ingrid Bjoner debuts as Elsa.
Das Rheingold
The premiere of a new Ring Cycle live from Munich
Might as well jump
On this day in 1958 Met opening night Tosca with Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, and George London.
Manon Lescaut
Puccini‘s adaptation closes out the Teatro Regio’s Manon-Manon-Manon project with a live broadcast from Turin
Just as the acid queen must do
On this day in 1959 mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena
Thoughts on Il trovatore: recordings
As for complete recordings of Il trovatore, which was discussed at some length last week, there are at least 200 of them, both studio and live.
It’s Brittany, bitch
Sparks flew when the San Francisco Opera opened their new production of Richard Wagner’s monumental Tristan und Isolde on Saturday, October 19th, at the War Memorial Opera House.
Page to stage
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Galina Vishnevskaya
Manon Lescaut
Not that one, the other one! Daniel Auber‘s opera in a live broadcast as part of Turin’s Manon-Manon-Manon triptych
Basque in the glory
For the opening night of Il Trovatore, Houston Grand Opera’s new production aimed high, bringing together a star-studded cast and a fresh, contemporary take on Verdi’s intense drama.