L’assedio di Corinto L’assedio di Corinto

A broadcast from 1975 celebrates 50 years since the Met debut of Beverly Sills

Breaching the walls Breaching the walls

On this day in 1975 Rossini‘s Siege of Corinth had its American stage premiere at the Metropolitan Opera

A fantastic four A fantastic four

These are my findings and opinions (and I welcome rebuttals)!

Now, baby, or never Now, baby, or never

Born on this day in 1915 singer and songwriter Billie Holiday.

Long lost daughter Long lost daughter

On this day in 1975 Rossini’s Siege of Corinth had its American stage premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. Soprano Beverly Sills made her official Met debut as Pamira.

Et voila l’histoire Et voila l’histoire

To mark Beverly Sills’s 90th birthday (May 25, 1929) “Trove Thursday” offers the late diva’s acclaimed Massenet heroine opposite her ideal Des Grieux, Alain Vanzo.

You’ve got to climb Mount Everest You’ve got to climb Mount Everest

On this day in 1975 soprano Beverly Sills made her official Metropolitan Opera debut as Pamira in L’assedio di Corinto. 

Conspicuous consumption Conspicuous consumption

A classic 1974 New York City Opera La traviata with Beverly Sills, John Stewart and Dominic Cossa conducted by Julius Rudel.

Biblical sense Biblical sense

Shirley Verrett remains one of my all-time favorite artists, and I am pleased to introduce her to my Mixcloud site in one of her parade roles: the femme fatale in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila.

Chris and the pirates Chris and the pirates

Back when I was a good boy, I told my parents that my goal in getting my first job was to earn money for college; however, my real motive was to make my secret wish come true—to be able to consort with “pirates.”

Love in bloom Love in bloom

Everything about Aleksandra Kurzak’s new disc is a variation on the term “fioritura.”

Not enough, too soon

While major stars like René Pape and Piotr Beczala had to wait until they were over 40 to record a solo aria CD, Julia Lezhneva has just done her first—and she’s only twenty-one!  After a drought, CD companies are issuing a surprising number of debut recitals; Nino Machaidze, Olga Peretyatko, Mojca Erdmann, and Aleksandra Kurzak…

Remembering Shirley Verrett

When handing out the goodies, the gods weren’t stingy with Shirley Verrett.  Few opera singers were as prodigiously gifted as Verrett:  the perfect amalgam of Kunst and Stimm housed in a frame of voluptuous allure.  In addition to an instrument of stunning natural beauty and easy range, Verrett displayed superior musicianship, dramatic intelligence and searing…