Events in opera history today, October 29th, 2006

Today we can celebrate the birthdays of:

Igor Gorin (1908-1982)
Tiana Lemnitz (1897-1994)
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

Also, the following works premiered on this date:

Donizetti's "I Pirati" (1822)
Rossini's "L'Equivoco Straavagante" (1816)
Gretry's "L'Ami de la Maison" (1771)

Let us remember Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) and Walter
Gieseking (1895-1956) who passed away on this date.

The quote for today is: "My hey day is over and another must take my
place. The world wants something new. Others have ceded their
places to us and we must cede ours to still others. I am more than
happy to give mine to people of talent like Verdi." Gaetano
Donizetti.

Franz Liszt - one of the world's most famous Hungarians - happy birthday

oh and thanks for all the good music, too!


Today we can celebrate the birthdays of:

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Giovanni Martinelli1885-1969)
Vincenzo Manfridini (1737-1799)

Let us remember the following artists who passed away on this date:

Jean Leclair (1920-1984)
Pablo Casals (1876-1973)
Ludwig Spohr (1784-1859)
Plinio Clabassi (1920-1984)
Gerhard Pechner (1903-1969)
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)

The quote for today is: "There are ballades and romances to be found
among the Gypsies, but their few lays rank no higher than awkward
experiments not to be classes with works of art." Franz Liszt.

Overheard in New York - the Opera version

But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct

Opera singer #1: So you gave up the rodeo to join the opera?
Opera singer #2: Yeah.

--Band shell, Central Park

Overheard by: Jason

via Overheard in New York, Oct 21, 2006

Washington National Opera Internet "telecast" announced

In its continuing efforts to win a wider audience, the Washington
National Opera plans to present its second free live simulcast from the Kennedy
Center to the Mall on Nov. 12.

"Madama Butterfly" will be shown that afternoon on an 18-by-32-foot
video
screen located near the Capitol as part of what WNO now says is
a "commitment" to telecasting one opera a year. Last November, George
and
Ira Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" drew an audience estimated at 13,000
people.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101801913.html

Today's operatic birthdays and events - October 21,2006

Today we can celebrate the birthdays of:

Virginia Zeani (1925)
Georg Solti (1912-1997)
John Alexander (1923-1990)
Joseph Cantelolube (1879-1957)

Also, the following works premiered on this date:

Gretry's "Richard Coeur de Lion" (1784)
Mussorgsky's "The Fair at Sorochinck" (1913)
Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld" (1858)

Today in opera/musical history - October 20th, 2006

BIRTHDAYS – SINGERS:

Brendel, Wolfgang (b) Ger. b. Munich, Oct. 20, 1947; MET: Début: Nov.
20,1975 [Almaviva] Le Nozze di Figaro (1975, 88-89, 91, 94-98, 01-03) 84 perf.
11 works.

Elms, Lauris (c) Aussie. b. Melbourne, Oct. 20, 1931;

Navál, Franz (t) [Franz Pogacnik] (1865-1939) Austrian. (74) b. Laibach,
Oct. 20, 1865; d. Aug. 9, 1939: MET: Début Feb. 13, 1904 [Georges] La Dame Blanche (1904) 27 perf. 7 works.

Pollock, Michael (t) (1921-2003) U.S. b. New York, Oct. 20, 1921; d. San Diego, Nov. 8, 2003:

Simon, Joanna (ms) U.S. b. New York, Oct 20, 1940; MET: Début: National
Council Concert: Mar. 23, 1962: The only performance by this artist.

Turgeon, Bernard (b) Can. b. Edmonton, Alberta, Oct. 20, 1932;

Ventriglia, Franco (bs) U.S. b. Fairfield, CT, Oct. 20, 1927;

Vejzovic, Dunja (ms) Yugoslavian. b. Zagreb, Oct. 20, 1943; MET: Début:Oct. 9, 1978 [Venus] Tannhäuser (1978) 2, perf. 1 work.

OPERA - COMPOSERS:

FUMI: Vinceslao (1823-1880) It. b. Montepuciano, Oct. 20, 1823; d.
Firenze,
Nov. 20, 1880: OPERA: (1862) Buenos Aires: “Atala”

PERFORMANCE DEBUTS:
(1888) DENVER: Tabor Grand: Abbott Grand Opera Co., Flotow: Martha.

SINGER DÉBUTS:
MET: (1979) William Johns (t) U.S. Bizet: [José] Carmen.

Legend: t=tenor, b= baritone, s=soprano, ms=mezzo-soprano, bs=bass, c=countertenor

Today in opera music history

Today we can celebrate the birthdays of:

Benita Valente (1934)
Emil Gilels (1918-1985)
Erna Berger (1900-1990)
The Peruvian tenor, Ernesto Palacio, celebrates his sixtieth birthday
today.

Also, Wagner's "Tannheuser" premiered on this date in 1845.

Let us remember Jacqueline Du Pre (1945-1987) who passed away on this
date.

Tear down the walls - todays opera is Saint-Saens Samson and Dalila, featuring Jose Cura and Olga Borodina

Todays opera on Whats Opera Doc is Saint-Saens Samson and Dalila, featuring Jose Cura and Olga Borodina

Sir Colin Davis conducts, as always listening online is from 10AM-1PM EST or -500 GMT at http://whfr.fm

Link to a libretto/synopsis is:
http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/history/stories/synopsis.aspx?id=22
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_et_Dalila

I will also play selections from the Natalie Dessay/Emmanuelle Haim recent CD of Handel, and Jonathan Lemalu doing some American and English songs.

Thanks for listening!

Opera T-shirts

I'll take one of each, please.

Tristan und Isolde, a first-time for Wagner on What's Opera, Doc?

As usual, What's Opera Doc airs 10AM-1PM EST, or -500 GMT.

Turesdays opera is Wagners Tristan und Isolde - and a first for the show - in 3 years, this is my first Wagner outing.

Pappano conducts in Covent Garden, and the recording features Placido Domingo, Nina Stemme, Mihoko Fujimara, Olaf Bar, Rene Pape, Ian Bostridge and Rolando Villazon.

Plots for Wagner are convoluted, so here is a synopsis.