I can’t imagine anything more anxiety-inducing than being put in at last-minute to sing a role in a high-profile production at the Met.
On this day in 1987 the Met raised the curtain on Franco Zeffirelli‘s production of Turandot.
Frankly I thought Sondra Radvanovsky had reached her pinnacle with her Norma but I was apparently mistaken. I’m happy to say her Turandot is completely next-level.
Angel Blue‘s refulgent, lush soprano blooms as Violetta’s vocal lines broaden and soar.
On this day in 1984, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini.
On this day in 1922 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company debut of Catalani’s Loreley.
The English Concert’s annual Handel tour brings Solomon conducted by Harry Bicket to the US beginning Sunday March 5. In anticipation, Chris’s Cache offers Solomon plus four other oratorios by the master: Belshazzar, Hercules, Saul and Jephtha, all via broadcasts for which I feel a personal connection.
On the train ride home I was thinking that I don’t want to see or hear Norma ever again.
It seems that François Girard has been watching a little too much Star Wars lately. His new production of Lohengrin, which opened at the Metropolitan Opera Sunday afternoon, reduced Wagner’s opera to a knockoff space opera, full of hackneyed sci-fi tropes and B-rated futurist apologue.
On this day in 1978, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Donizetti’s La favorita.
What’s the status of the American Dream nowadays? Did it ever really exist? If it’s dead, why isn’t it gone?
On this day in 1918 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Bellini’s I puritani featuring soprano Maria Barrientos.
On Saturday at Alice Tully Hall, Julliard 415, the school’s top-flight period-instrument ensemble, was joined by students from the Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts and Juilliard Drama for a rare semi-staging of King Arthur.
Chris’s Cache sends Renata Scotto a valentine ahead of her 89th birthday next week with rare in-house recordings of eight (!) mid-career performances spanning 1971-1977.
On this day in 1937 soprano Bidu Sayão made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Manon.
On this day in 1982 the Metropolitan Opera revisited its controversial season-opener Norma.
There is a moment about 75% of the way through the Rome Narrative where you can almost literally hear Tannhäuser’s stomach turn.
On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo.
On this day in 1965 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Salome.
Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin, and Moss Hart’s 1941 musical Lady in the Dark is a psychoanalytical romantic comedy. It simultaneously mocks and takes seriously the power of looking inward to understand oneself, a process which can be silly, frustrating and life-changing in turn.
On this day in 1974 Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani had its Metropolitan Opera stage premiere.
For me, Fedora is the perfect opera
On this day in 1903, the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Verdi’s Ernani.
On this day in 1961 the Metropolitan Opera presented the historic debuts of Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli in Verdi’s Il trovatore.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
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