Betsy Ann Bobolink muses, “Choices, choices! If one were so authoritarian as to insist that all chatters must be listening to the same thing, which, out of 22 offerings with more still to come, would offer the best opportunity for spirited discourse? In short, which opera would most people most like to F.K.?” 

In all likelihood, it would not be one of the 1 F.K. group; operas that are either a) so unfamiliar that those listening will in fact listen, and listen very, very closely. People who are actually paying attention have no time to F.K. around. Or b) the performance level is so high that only the most churlish can find fault.

1:00-4:00 NPR World of Opera: ORLANDO from Monnaie — A case in point. Unless you are a total Baroque-aphobe, this is opera listening at its best.

Or take these two. Only the most devout esotericist will discover things to F.K. here, and then who would he find to appreciate his display of intense erudition? None, Brutus, none.

1:30-4:00 BARTOK RADIO: THE JACOBIN by Dvorak

2:00-5:00 CESKY ROZHLAS VLTAVA: Thomas’ CELIMENE

A third category of 1 F.K. operas include anything with “Christ” or “Saint” in the title. I mean, you never know Who might be listening. And if anybody ever writes an opera called “Allah goes to Texas,” I ain’t touchin’ it.

2:00-5:00 HR2 KULTUR: Liszt’s CHRISTUS

3:52-6:00 CESKY ROZHLAS D-Dur: Dvorak’s SAINT LUDMILA

Now take your average 2 F.K. opera. Things are going to go wrong, and it’s fun to be the first to spot wayward pitch or inaccurate trills.

11:30-1:00 FRANCE MUSIQUE: A Rita Streich retrospective. Streich was a major star, and she still has her partisans, but Lordy, she could hit some doozies. However it’s likely this broadcast assembles only her good stuff.

2:00-6:00 KLARA: DON GIOVANNI from La Scala. A live performance is a different matter. Here’s one, filled with major stars — Mattei, Terfel, Netrebko — and they’re just not clicking.

1:00-4:00 WQED, WQXR, WCNY: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS from Chicago. This was the hit of last week’s Chat. A lot of people were very impressed with Amber Wagner and Alice Coote. But Anna Christy provided a good target for sharp knives.

There are some 3 F.K. operas in the offing. They provoke and stimulate discussion over a wide variety of topics.

1:00-4:30 WFMT American Opera Network: SHOWBOAT from Chicago. Can Nathan Gunn really sing with his shirt on?

1:00-4:00 WRR: SIMON BOCCANEGRA. Is Piero Cappuccilli truly the last of the baritones with balls?

1:00-5:00 KBYU: DIE ZAUBERFLOTE from Chicago. How rapidly can Mozart whirl in his grave before he spins his way to the Antipodes?

2:00-6:00 ESPACE 2: RIENZI from Madrid. If this thing weren’t by Wagner, would anybody bother with it?

2:00-6:00 LYRIC FM: “Vivaldi’s” L’ORACOLO IN MESSENIA. Wasn’t the world a better place when “pasticcio” was an ice cream flavor?

It doesn’t look like there are any 4 F.K. operas on tap for tomorrow. If you recall, this is a performance that evokes such partisanship that F.K.-ers attack each other in their frenzy.

“But, Miss Betsy,” a plaintive voice cries out. “There are other programs you have not mentioned. Can you not guide us to enlightenment?” Alas, no, my plaintive little plaintive person. Up ’til now, I have commented only on those performances I have actually heard. From this point on, I can only predict.

12:00-4:00 ESPACE MUSIQUE
FALSTAFF. Lausanne’s a good house, but it’s not top tier, so it’s not likely to attract top talent. Workman-like, at best. 2 F.K.

1:00-5:00 BBC 3: LA BOHEME from ROH. I like Bychkov, and I like Calleja, but I suspect the rest will offer little of interest. 3 F.K.

1:00-5:30 France, Latvia, Austria, Sweden: DON CARLO. Pape (if he’s sober), Vargas, D’Intino, Keenlyside, Stoyanova. There have been good reports on this. 3 F.K.

1:00-5:00 RADIO 4 NETHERLANDS: WAITING FOR MISS MONROE by Robin de Braaf. This is a premiere, which means that nobody knows anything about it, but the presence of Laura Aiken is reassuring. 2 F.K.

1:00-6:00 RADIO CLASICA DE ESPANA: SEMELE from Canada. The names Jane Archibald and Anthony Roth Costanza suggest this could be rather good. Maybe even Bill Burden will have a positive impact. Handel-fanciers should give it a try. 2 F.K.

1:00-5:00 RTP ANTENA 2: DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN. If you read Patrick Mack’s review, you know what to expect. Here’s a chance to hear it for yourself. 2 F.K.

1:50-5:00 DR P2 KLASSIK: FALSTAFF from ROH. Likewise, there have been a number of very positive posts, particularly about Ana Maria Martinez. Danielle Gatti, however, gives me the malmseys. 3 F.K.

2:00-6:30 RADIO STEPHANSDOM: GOTTERDAMMERUNG from ROH, 1957. Nilsson, Windgassen, Uhde, Bohme, Kempe. 1 F.K. Any questions?

2:00-5:00 RADIO SLOVENIA: DON CARLO — no details available, but on the basis of past experience it is either commercial or a repeat broadcast.

4:30-6:00 RADIO TRE: Antique Love Songs. Since I am somewhat of an antique, I shall listen with interest.

Happy F.K.-ing! See you in Chat.