Billy Budd

Billy Budd / Opéra de Lyon

Sean Michael Plumb, Derek Walton, and Paul Appleby lead a performance recorded last month in Lyon

Streamed May 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Eugene Onegin

Eugene Onegin / Metropolitan Opera

Iurii Samoilov and Asmik Grigorian star in a live broadcast from New York

Streamed May 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A favorite Verdi performance from Ryan Ellerman A favorite Verdi performance from Ryan Ellerman

Luminous Lucia Popp’s “Caro Nome” beams with Gilda’s youthful passion, displaying Popp’s signature bright, beautiful timbre and magnificent coloratura.

Turandot

Turandot / Atlanta Opera

Angela Meade, Jonathan Burton, and Juliana Grigoryan star in a live video broadcast from Atlanta Opera

Streamed May 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
A favorite Verdi performance from Marina Rebeka A favorite Verdi performance from Marina Rebeka

While studying Un ballo in maschera for my Vienna role debut next January, I came across this beautiful ‘Ecco l’orrido campo’ amazingly performed by Montserrat Caballé.

Thoughts on Lieder by Konstantin Krimmel Thoughts on Lieder by Konstantin Krimmel

“You’re your own boss.”

A favorite art song performance from Niel Rishoi A favorite art song performance from Niel Rishoi

Hans Hotter masterfully captures the poignancy of this sublime Brahms Lied.

Roméo et Juliette

Roméo et Juliette / Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Vittorio Grigolo and Nino Machaidze sing the title roles in a live broadcast from Rome

Streamed April 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM
La voix surhumaine La voix surhumaine

Barbara Hannigan mesmerizes as both a brilliant vocalist and a proficient opera conductor in a double bill of Strauss and La voix humaine with the New York Philharmonic.

A favorite art song performance from Arrigo A favorite art song performance from Arrigo

While refined, Lisa della Casa sings “Four Last Songs” deeply alert to the text and with effortless vocalization that sounds fresh and spontaneous.

The night is dark and full of terrors The night is dark and full of terrors

Opera Baltimore concludes its season with a piercing semi-staged production of Pelléas et Mélisande.

A favorite art song performance from Belfagor A favorite art song performance from Belfagor

Funnily enough, I’m not remotely a Rachmaninov fan, but this performance by Galina Vishnevskaya in her considerable prime always gives me the chills.

Hustle your bustle Hustle your bustle

Opera San José‘s La Traviata has all the buzz and energy of a world premiere.

A favorite art song performance from Rowna Sutin A favorite art song performance from Rowna Sutin

With youthful abandon, Ms. Feola interprets an old chestnut.

La sonnambula

La sonnambula / Metropolitan Opera

A performance recorded this fall in New York featuring Nadine Sierra and Xabier Anduaga

Streamed April 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Der fliegende Holländer

Der fliegende Holländer / Wiener Staatsoper

A live broadcast from Vienna starring Thomas Konieczny

Streamed April 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Big man in town Big man in town

A strong revival of Falstaff at the Los Angeles Opera proves a fitting farewell vehicle for Music Director James Conlon.

A favorite art song performance from Andrew Lokay A favorite art song performance from Andrew Lokay

Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton’s rendition of Jake Heggie‘s “Winged Victory: We’re Through,” vividly captures the song’s humor and energy.

Verdi Requiem

Verdi Requiem / Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Myung-Whun Chung conducts Ailyn Pérez, Ekaterina Semenchuk, René Barbera, and Roberto Tagliavini in a live broadcast from Rome

Streamed April 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Now sleeps the crimson petal Now sleeps the crimson petal

Gregory Spears’s Sleepers Awake mystifies and delights at Opera Philadelphia.

Come and Gandhi Come and Gandhi

Led by a mesmerizing Anthony Roth Costanzo, Satyagraha at the Paris Opera dispenses with historical particularities for something for more elusive.

Kuda, woulda, shoulda Kuda, woulda, shoulda

A strong revival of Eugene Onegin at the Metropolitan Opera and a recital by Benjamin Bernheim offered the chance to hear “Kuda, kuda” twice in two days.

A favorite art song performance from Jamie Barton A favorite art song performance from Jamie Barton

This prompt of “favorite art song performance” seems just about as broad — and almost silly — a question as asking a painter what their favorite color is.

Breaking up is hard to do Breaking up is hard to do

Before her one-woman La voix humaine with the New York Philharmonic, Barbara Hannigan talks to Kevin Ng about her career, her artistry, and whether or not there’s a voice on the other line.