Porgy Amor

A cynical member of Generation X, Louisville native Todd Koenig rejected a society that told its youth the answers could be found in the MTV video games. His exploration of 20th-century popular music led to a study of piano and a love of jazz. In his twenties, he began to listen to classical music – first symphonic works, chamber music, and keyboard literature, then song cycles, masses and oratorios. Five years into that period, he ventured into one of the few remaining uncharted territories: opera. He has familiarized himself with the standard repertory and much outside of it, and has advocated the art form to friends his age or younger who love music and theater. Since September 2015, as "Porgy Amor," he has written reviews, history and think pieces (sometimes all at the same time) for parterre box. The opera he loves above all others is Verdi's Falstaff, which he has described as the work of a very old man, with which a listener can grow old.


Traveling music Traveling music

Andrea Andermann is the veteran film producer who had the notion to assemble top-flight talent from the worlds of music and cinema for a generously funded film of Tosca.

on January 16, 2017 at 9:00 AM
Dirty dancing Dirty dancing

The DVD of Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen‘s 2013 opera The Picture of Dorian Gray.

on January 09, 2017 at 9:03 AM
There arose such a clatter There arose such a clatter

With Christmas Eve 2016 falling on a Saturday, the Met offers contrasting orchestral splendors at noon and 6 p.m.

on December 23, 2016 at 4:16 PM
Once, Moore, with feeling Once, Moore, with feeling

When Sonja Frisell‘s Met production of Aïda was new and starred Oklahoma native Leona Mitchell, the similarly-intialled Latonia Moore was nine years old, singing in the choir of her pastor grandfather’s church. 

on November 22, 2016 at 5:15 PM
Stage beauty Stage beauty

>What does a great opera production do, and what does a bad production fail to do?

on November 11, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Rooting for the underdoge Rooting for the underdoge

“Take a good deal of trouble with it, because it is a fine subject, delicate and full of pathos.”

on October 24, 2016 at 11:14 AM
You can’t hide your lion eyes You can’t hide your lion eyes

The UK’s first-ever production of Poliuto, now available from Opus Arte on DVD, set the lions of Rome among the lambs of Glyndebourne.

on October 20, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Park and bark Park and bark

Like Orest, I return to this house.

on October 04, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Geh such dir die Stars vom vergangenen Jahr! Geh such dir die Stars vom vergangenen Jahr!

Tristan has been the season-launching opera three times before now, but good luck finding someone to provide a firsthand account of the last time.

on September 23, 2016 at 3:20 AM
“Something great in itself” “Something great in itself”

Now we have considered the three “winners” in the Tristan competition, let’s turn to the also-rans, or, to be more optimistic, the runners up.

on September 22, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Wunderbare Träume Wunderbare Träume

Patrice Chéreau, the humanist in provocateur’s clothing, returned to Wagner in 2007 at La Scala with Daniel Barenboim and Waltraud Meier.

on September 21, 2016 at 9:00 AM
I saw three ships I saw three ships

“Never in my life having enjoyed the true happiness of love I shall erect a memorial to this loveliest of all dreams…”

on September 20, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Mourning Wood Mourning Wood

Sometimes when you find the club that will have you as a member, you do not easily give up your spot.

on July 04, 2016 at 1:29 PM
Cross purposes Cross purposes

“Has anyone ever seen a truly great production of this opera?”

on May 27, 2016 at 12:11 PM
Shooting in low light Shooting in low light

What we really need, some seem to believe, is fuller representation of the 19th century.

on May 15, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Not only with words, but with lively gestures Not only with words, but with lively gestures

“I will never sing the role again. It was frightful. We were a set of madwomen…There is nothing beyond Elektra. We have lived and reached the furthest boundaries in dramatic writing for the voice with Wagner. But Richard Strauss goes beyond him. His singing voices are lost. We have come to a full stop.” 

on April 12, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Dark vittoria Dark vittoria

There is a self-effacing quality to Jonas Kaufmann’s concert film An Evening with Puccini.

on February 24, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Il core vi dono Il core vi dono

With February 14th falling on a Sunday, there will be no Valentine’s Day Met performance this year.

on February 12, 2016 at 9:30 AM
Hello from the other side Hello from the other side

A woman reads from the Bible. There is a dance scene in a tavern. The discovery of blood gives away the protagonist.

on January 28, 2016 at 10:00 AM
After dark After dark

The Canadian Robert Carsen would appear to love the theater to the point of fixation.

on January 20, 2016 at 1:54 PM
And never brought to mind And never brought to mind

It would be generous to say that history comes alive on the operatic stage.

on December 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM
A Pole in the head A Pole in the head

Enthusiasm is contagious–you have to cover up carefully lest it make you sick.

on December 21, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Half a million marks Half a million marks

Unlike my friend Greg Freed, who entertainingly wrote of his ambivalence about seeing Il trovatore in a movie theater this season, I have embraced the Met Live in HD transmissions as a part of the modern operagoing experience.

on November 24, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Let me like a soldier fall Let me like a soldier fall

Between them, Maria Guleghina, Marcello Giordani, James Morris and John Del Carlo have nearly 150 combined years of service on stage.

on November 10, 2015 at 9:00 AM
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