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Summer opera trip travelogue
Hello there. I took a big trip in August with my dear friend Scott, a long-discussed summer European opera festival trip. Five operas in...
ladiesvoices
Sep 27, 20251 min read
Fabulous Friday: *The Eye Has To Travel*
I had such a wacky afternoon yesterday, followed by a simply divine evening at home. It all started because we needed to send a gift to...
ladiesvoices
Sep 26, 20255 min read
CDA x 2: Cardinale and Redford
Yesterday my mom alerted me to the death of Claudia Cardinale, age 87. She was a marvelous Italian movie star at her peak in the 60s....
ladiesvoices
Sep 25, 20252 min read
Diva/Mensch pair for Sept 24, 2025
The 2017 Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album went to Carrie Fisher for her audio book The Princess Diarist. I read that book and enjoyed...
ladiesvoices
Sep 24, 20251 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 9
Just as I thought, Belania and Antonio were not both being eliminated. Heidi brought out Christian - - I thought maybe the choice would...
ladiesvoices
Sep 22, 20253 min read
Fabulous Friday: “Wade in the Water”
Wade in the water, children! I give you two kick ass recordings of that spiritual. First, a low down funky live recording by Bessie...
ladiesvoices
Sep 19, 20251 min read
Diva/Mensch pair for Sept 17, 2025
The 2016 Grammy for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album went to soprano Dorothea Röschmann and pianist Mitsuko Uchida for a pairing of two...
ladiesvoices
Sep 17, 20251 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 8
Funny how a week goes by and I had totally forgotten about the previous challenge. But then I saw the sequined horns sticking out of...
ladiesvoices
Sep 15, 20254 min read
Fabulous Friday: "Io son l'umile ancella"
I've had this aria stuck in my head every day lately. It's Adriana's entrance aria from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur , a shamelessly...
ladiesvoices
Sep 12, 20251 min read
CDA: Polly Holiday
Nick told me about the death of Polly Holiday at age 88. She had a long career on stage and screen but will always be remembered for her...
ladiesvoices
Sep 11, 20251 min read
Diva/Mensch pair for Sept 10, 2025
The Best Musical Theater Album winner for 2015 was naturally Hamilton, one of the most amazing shows I've ever seen. Unparalleled...
ladiesvoices
Sep 10, 20251 min read
CDA: Christoph von Dohnanyi
I just read in the NY Times about the death of conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi at the age of 95. Unfortunately I never got to hear him...
ladiesvoices
Sep 9, 20251 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 7
Of course we start with the auf from the previous week. I was surprised that Joan was sent home, I felt like her look was stronger. Plus...
ladiesvoices
Sep 6, 20253 min read
Fabulous Friday: “For You”
Thank you, Instagram and The Dumb Bananas, for bringing this divine trash into my life:
ladiesvoices
Sep 5, 20251 min read
CDA: Giorgio Armani
Scott just informed me of the death of Giorgio Armani at the age of 91. He was a major force in fashion for many years, never swerving...
ladiesvoices
Sep 4, 20251 min read
Diva/Mensch pair for Sept 3, 2025
The Best Spoken Word Album winner at the 2013 Grammys was Joan Rivers for Diary of a Mad Diva. Pretty clear cut, the word Diva is right...
ladiesvoices
Sep 3, 20251 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 6
The auf from the previous challenge went to Madeline. It helps that it feels like she knew she was heading in that direction. She said...
ladiesvoices
Sep 2, 20253 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 5
The episode, of course, started at the end of the previous episode. What is it Maria said in *The Sound of Music*? Let's start at the...
ladiesvoices
Sep 2, 20254 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 4
I have mixed feelings about the cliffhanger structure in this season. It helps that I was behind and watched three episodes in two...
ladiesvoices
Sep 1, 20253 min read
Ryan on the Runway: PR21 ep 3
It's been a waaaall. I didn't just forget that they saved the elimination for the start of the next episode, I also forgot what the...
ladiesvoices
Aug 31, 20254 min read
Fabulous Friday: Poison Ivy
Here's Howard: The impact of performance is often heightened by the date on the ticket. For example, I once saw Diamanda Galás on Easter Sunday. Billy Bragg on Labor Day. The Orb on New Year’s Eve. Except for Diamanda maybe, no other show lined up with the stars like seeing The Cramps on Halloween. Crazy fun. Sacramento Psychobilly legends, The Cramps were formed by wife and husband, Lux Interior and Poison Ivy. They were raw and erotic, retro and porno, all mashed together i
ladiesvoices
2 days ago1 min read
Diva/Mensch pair for Jan 7, 2026
We had a funny situation with the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical in 1952. Diva: Yul Brynner Mensch: Best Supporting Actor in a Musical? They really thought that was a supporting role? My litmus test is - - who is it about? Like when What's Love Got To Do With It? was up for Oscars they gave both Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne nominations for leading performances. Ike Turner IS the leading male figure in the movie but from my point of view, who is it about? The movie
ladiesvoices
4 days ago1 min read
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