I want magic
Jeanine De Bique, appearing in recitals in Fort Worth and New York this fall, casts a spell in this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Beg, Bardo, or steal
The Metropolitan Opera has added a live, free video broadcast of Lincoln in the Bardo to its fall lineup on Saturday, 14 November at 8 PM EST.
In for the kill
Saioa Hernández makes a no-hold-barred house debut in The Metropolitan Opera’s prematurely dusty Tosca.
Carmen is better in translation
Consider this 1959 Italian-language blowout from Palermo, with Franco Corelli’s infiammatissimo Don José
Broadcasts / Live Chat
Silent Night
Kevin Puts's and Mark Campbell's opera in a live video broadcast from Atlanta Opera
Streaming and discussion start Nov 13 at 7:35 PM
Comment
Don Giovanni
Konstantin Krimmel sings the lead role in a performance recorded at the Edinburgh Festival
Streaming and discussion start Nov 14 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Götterdämmerung
Pablo Heras-Casado conducts Andreas Schager, Johannes Martin Kränzle, Brian Mulligan, and Tamara Wilson in a performance recorded last month in Paris
Streaming and discussion start Nov 14 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Der Rosenkavalier
Julia Kleiter, Emily D’Angelo, Katharina Konradi, and Wilhelm Schwinghammer star in a performance recorded in Baden-Baden in May
Streaming and discussion start Nov 14 at 2:03 PM
Comment
Lincoln in the Bardo
A live, free video broadcast of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's new opera from the Metropolitan Opera
Streaming and discussion start Nov 14 at 8:00 PM
Comment
Eight Veils: Asmik Grigorian in Concert
Asmik Grigorian sings Puccini, Dvořák, Verdi, and Strauss with Petras and Lukas Geniušas
Streaming and discussion start Nov 18 at 7:25 PM
Comment
Recent Stories
Broadcast
Lincoln in the Bardo / Metropolitan Opera
The penultimate performance of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's new opera, live from the Met
Streamed November 11, 2026 at 7:25 PM
4 comments
Aïda is better in translation
This 1961 performance from the Bolshoi is a treasure.
By Everest
44 comments
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Broadcast
Faust / Teatro alla Scala
Daniele Rustioni conducts Vittorio Grigolo, Marina Rebeka, and Alex Esposito in a live video broadcast of Johannes Erath's new production from Milan
Streamed November 8, 2026 at 1:30 PM
19 comments
The mirror stage
Now in its penultimate installation, Tobias Kratzer’s Munich Ring is reaching full maturity—without compromising its humor.
Don Carlo is better in translation
Don Carlo not in French, nor in Italian, but in German.
By CKurwenal
13 comments
Broadcast
La fille du régiment / Wiener Staatsoper
Evelino Pidò conducts Erin Morley and Xabier Anduaga in a live broadcast from Vienna
Streamed November 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM
22 comments
Let it begin here
San Francisco Opera’s revolution-set The Marriage of Figaro may not always strike the right balance, but it certainly speaks to the moment.
Don Carlo is better in translation
I always have professed a fondness, even an obsession, to hearing Verdi in German, especially as sung by Martha Modl.
By La Grunowa
62 comments
Broadcast
Tosca / Metropolitan Opera
Saioa Hernandez is Floria Tosca in a live broadcast from the Met opposite SeokJong Baek and Quinn Kelsey
Streamed November 6, 2026 at 7:25 PM
175 comments
La traviata is better in translation
One of the loveliest translations I’ve enjoyed was Mado Robin’s recording of La traviata.
By Mr. Portafiori
38 comments
English accents
Parterre Box pays tribute to late conductor Antonino Fogliani with a bit of Maria Stuarda ahead of the opera’s return to the Met next month.
Salome is better in translation
Richard Strauss adapted Oscar Wilde’s original 1891 French libretto into a 1907 French revision of Salome, unfortunately not often performed.
By Darby Fegan
39 comments
Fallen Angel
Angel Blue is out of this season’s Desdemonas and Aïdas in New York — as well as every other operatic role this season.
Bitches and broods
Sonya Yoncheva tackles one of opera’s mothers from hell in the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Medea.
A first opera from a first people
In Juneau, the world premiere of the Tlingit-language opera Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles raises new questions about cultural ownership while singing a song all its own.
Les Contes d’Hoffmann is better in translation
Yes, you miss the champagne sparkle and lilt of the best French versions but look at what you gain by hearing these grizzly tales in ETA Hoffmann’s own language.
By Dessaix79
136 comments
Turn on, tune in, drop out
Richard Lynn provides a comprehensive introduction to the surprisingly wide and unsurprisingly wild world of opera podcasts.
Broadcast
Salome / Cincinnati Opera
Kathryn Lewek sings the title role in a performance recorded in Cincinnati in June
Streamed November 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM
70 comments
Mantua man
San Diego Opera’s Rigoletto, starring a persuasive Michael Chioldi, veers traditional—without the mothballs in tow.
La bohème is better in translation
There are Bohèmes and Bohèmes, and it is almost a joke word these days, but the French show us how it is properly done.
Broadcast
Parsifal / Royal Ballet and Opera
Jakub Hrůša conducts Stanislas de Barbeyrac in a performance recorded earlier this month in London.
Streamed October 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM
13 comments
A favorite mezzo performance from Damian
This performance by Marilyn Horne has always stunned me and everyone I play it for.
By Damian
61 comments
Broadcast
Medea / Metropolitan Opera
Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role in live a broadcast from New York
Streamed October 30, 2026 at 7:25 PM
146 comments