Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is the alter-ego of Ivy Lin, who in her day job teaches biology at an alternative transfer high school. Ivy's love of opera began when her father decreed that Mozart, Beethoven and other symphonic and instrumental works were superior to opera. Naturally, Ivy rebelled and began to secretly listen to Met broadcasts on Saturday afternoons on WQXR. In her spare time Ivy runs her own performance arts blog, brags about her cat, and obsesses over Game of Thrones. If Ivy were to sing opera she’d be typecast as Despina until she was in a wheelchair.


Glyph you hadn’t, but you did Glyph you hadn’t, but you did

f you like opera to look like a museum, the Arena di Verona’s latest video of Aida should jump to the top of your wish list.

on December 30, 2013 at 7:52 AM
Brother act Brother act

The Jesi foundation continues its tireless quest of making Pergolesi operas available on video.

on October 12, 2013 at 5:46 PM
Zing went the strings Zing went the strings

This DVD of a Diana Damrau recital (accompanied only by the harpist Xavier de Maistre) is sure to please her legions of fans.

on October 06, 2013 at 12:24 AM
Backstory Backstory

In August 1845 Alexandre Dumas fils ended his brief but passionate affair with Parisian courtesan Marie Duplessis. He sent her a bitter letter that is often quoted in program notes about La Traviata.

on June 11, 2013 at 6:02 PM
Prequel Prequel

This cozy video of Il Barbiere di Siviglia was recently re-released and will be of interest to those who are only familiar with Cecilia Bartoli‘s work after she became an international star.

on April 02, 2013 at 12:32 AM
You, Claudius You, Claudius

Those Romans! How decadent, how corrupt, how much fun!

on March 11, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Seria business Seria business

La Salustia was Giovanni Batista Pergolesi’s first opera, composed at the tender age of 21. In structure and storyline it’s a conventional baroque opera seria.

on February 20, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Tiny tunes Tiny tunes

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s best known opera is La Serva Padrona, but the Neapolitan composer also composed several other works, which are now lovingly presented on video by the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini at Jesi.

on February 01, 2013 at 11:26 PM
Come un bel dì di gennaio Come un bel dì di gennaio

I’ve always had a certain affection for Roberto Alagna.

on January 06, 2013 at 11:34 PM
Carry on Cleo Carry on Cleo

Natalie Dessay coyly bares a breast on the cover of Virgin Classics’ new Giulio Cesare.

on December 10, 2012 at 7:51 PM
Can this “Marriage” be saved? Can this “Marriage” be saved?

The performance at the Metropolitan Opera last night proved that yes, it is possible to kill this opera. I don’t know how they managed it, but they did.

on October 27, 2012 at 2:35 PM
Rodent show Rodent show

This Hans Neuenfels staging for the Bayreuth Festival caused quite a stir at its 2010 premiere, but now, with time and distance, how radical is the production?

on July 19, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Blonde item Blonde item

This year, I attended one of Natalie Dessay‘s only fully-sung Traviatas at the Met.

on June 18, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Under water Under water

Rusalka and her sisters are huddled in the flooded basement.

on April 30, 2012 at 6:39 PM
Teenager in love Teenager in love

L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti’s evergreen comedy about young love, returned to the Met last night with a strong cast, a high energy level from all the performers, and last but not least, a very full house.

on March 06, 2012 at 11:08 AM
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