New kids from the bloc
If song recitals by opera stars Piotr Beczala and Asmik Grigorian sometimes came up short, Semyon Bychkov’s powerful rendition of the Glagolitic Mass instantly became one of the year’s highlights.
Birds, bears, and based boyfriends
While the Met’s Mozart-lite holiday production of The Magic Flute kept the eyes entertained with spectacular sets and costumes, the scattershot casting and lack of musical seriousness dragged down this opera for beginners.
Ethiopian blends
Anticipating the first new local Aïda in thirty-six years, Chris’s Cache revisits Verdi’s popular opera in four unusually interesting in-house recordings from the Met 1961-1976.
Broadcasts
The Magic Flute
A live broadcast from New York
Les Contes d’Hoffmann
A performance starring Juan Diego Flórez recorded earlier this fall in London
The Magic Flute
A live broadcast from New York
On This Day
Ecco l’artista!
Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini
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On this day in 1921 Jerome Kern’s Sally produced by Ziegfeld on Broadway
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An intriguing recital program live from Rome with Donald Sulzen
Last Thursday evening, pure virtuosity was on display at the Veterans’ Room of the Park Avenue Armory, courtesy of soprano Barbara Hannigan and pianist Bertrand Chamayou.
Born on this day in 1920 soprano Rita Streich with music for the holidays
A performance recorded earlier this month in Munich of American Modern Opera Company’s take on John Adams‘s oratorio
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Featured
It was, at least, a jolly good show. Whether or not it actually suited Stravinsky’s music or Auden and Kallman’s text, is another question.
Georg Solti made his Met debut conducting Tannhaüser on this date in 1960.
The court of Mantua has run away to join the circus; Washington, DC and Baltimore’s experimental opera company, IN Series, transformed Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto in a new production set under the big top this winter.
Born on this day in 1899 composer, playwright and actor Noel Coward
A live opening night broadcast from the Teatro Comunale di Bologna’s temporary home
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A performance recorded this spring at the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse
On this day in 1918 Puccini’s Il Trittico had its world premiere at the Met
Nino Rota‘s opera in a live performance from Genova
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