Day: January 5, 2011

Front facade of Houghton Library

19th-Century Showstoppers

[Thanks to Andrea Cawelti, Ward Project Music Cataloger, for contributing this post.] Cadenzas can be one of the most thrilling parts of an opera performance. Sometimes added by the composer, but more often created by singers (or their advisors) to showcase their particular talents, cadenzas today are rarely improvised on the spot, but carefully practiced…