Yesterday was Nikolai Gogol’s birthday, born 1809. When he was about 20, the Russian writer spent his time running around St. Petersburg trying to land a civil service job. But he dreamed of writing poems and stories. So he self-published a piece he had worked on for years.
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Tag Archives: Met Opera
Anna Netrebko, Woman of Winter
Currently — this very minute — killing it on the Met stage in the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore is Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, who took a break between acts this afternoon to speak with a radio host about, um, that photo that’s been circulating online.
Met Opera’s ‘Ring’ Set Raises New Questions
George Tsypin has designed sets for ballet, film and opera, including five productions at the Met. “Set design is very often the most challenging part of a production,” Tsypin said. Via WQXR, read more
James Levine Scales Down Remainder of Season at the Met
“Obviously Jimmy’s health is somewhat precarious,” Met general manager Peter Gelb told WQXR. “We’re adopting a kind of ‘wait and see’ approach.” Via WQXR, read more
That Was Then: Zeffirelli on La Traviata
January 14, 2011— As the Met replaces a staple production by Franco Zeffirelli, an archive interview with the director illuminates the rich grandeur that opera requires, and the wisdom of “certain liberties.” Via WQXR, read more
Sing for Your Life: The National Council Auditions
Nathaniel Peake distinguished himself early on with a rich, earnest delivery of “Ah, la paterna mano” from Verdi’s Macbeth, while Rachel Willis-Sørensen provided a searching account of “Einsam in trüben Tagen” from Wagner’s Lohengrin. Via The Metropolitan Opera, read more
Caroline M Cooper 