Christopher Corwin

Christopher Corwin began writing for parterre box in 2011 under the pen name “DeCaffarrelli.” His work has also appeared in , The New York Times, Musical America, The Observer, San Francisco Classical Voice and BAMNotes. Like many, he came to opera via the Saturday Met Opera broadcasts which he began listening to at age 11. His particular enthusiasm is 17th and 18th century opera. Since 2015 he has curated the weekly podcast Trove Thursday on parterre box presenting live recordings.

These are the damned These are the damned

Anticipating the work’s return to the Met after more than a decade, Trove Thursday presents La Damnation de Faust in a 1959 broadcast featuring Régine Crespin, Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc under the fine Berlioz conductor Igor Markevitch.

on January 09, 2020 at 10:13 AM
New singers, new songs New singers, new songs

The New Year begins with a hodgepodge of singers—and composers—each new to Trove Thursday.

on January 02, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Heaven is a place in Perth Heaven is a place in Perth

Trove Thursday bids adieu to 2019 with Bizet’s rare La Jolie Fille de Perth with the enchanting Christiane Eda-Pierre as the heroine who survives her madness.

on December 26, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Wir arme Leut! Wir arme Leut!

Trove Thursday presents that perennial holiday favorite Berg’s Wozzeck.

on December 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Bass instinct Bass instinct

Günther Groissböck’s ridiculously entertaining Baron Ochs and Sir Simon Rattle’s enthralling conducting soared highest during a mostly excellent revival of Der Rosenkavalier.

on December 16, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Immortal beloved Immortal beloved

Trove Thursday presents a 2002 broadcast of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Camilla Nylund, Iris Vermillion, Jonas Kaufmann and Franz-Josef Selig.

on December 12, 2019 at 10:26 AM
Body and soul Body and soul

Trove Thursday offers Haydn’s L’Anima del filosofo ossia Orfeo ed Euridice with Joan Sutherland, Nicolai Gedda and Spiro Malas.

on December 05, 2019 at 10:00 AM
The real deal The real deal

Yusif Eyvazov dominated Friday’s Met premiere of Pikovaya Dama with a fearless, world-class portrayal that instantly transformed the opera into December’s must-see event.

on December 01, 2019 at 6:39 PM
Sweet 1600s Sweet 1600s

Over the past week New York City was blessed by two appealing 17th century presentations: John Blow’s Venus and Adonis from Opera Lafayette and La Storia di Orfeo courtesy of the Boston Early Music Festival.

on November 29, 2019 at 1:25 PM
“A first-class second-rate composer” “A first-class second-rate composer”

Trove Thursday explores the alpha and omega of Richard Strauss.

on November 28, 2019 at 12:47 PM
Revelation Revelation

Beg. Borrow. Steal. Bargain. Cajole. Seduce. Threaten. Extort.

on November 22, 2019 at 10:59 AM
I’m a believer I’m a believer

For its gala 200th (!) edition Trove Thursday presents an all-star performance of Mussorgsky’s “other” great masterpiece Khovanshchina with Christa Ludwig, Martti Talvela, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Bernd Weikl and Wieslaw Ochman.

on November 21, 2019 at 10:00 AM
One night only One night only

Christine Goerke‘s distracted, tentative Isolde turned out to be the least potent feature of what was an otherwise exciting and effective second act of Tristan.

on November 19, 2019 at 10:37 AM
Thoroughly Modern Jessye Thoroughly Modern Jessye

A second Trove Thursday marking the recent passing of Jessye Norman focuses on the soprano’s catholic repertoire with three 20th century works: Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex; Berg’s Altenberg Lieder; and Franck’s Les Béatitudes.

on November 14, 2019 at 9:41 AM
Full measure Full measure

Trove Thursday offers three broadcast glimpses of the young Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen.

on November 07, 2019 at 10:00 AM
More things sacred More things sacred

In recent weeks local and visiting groups performed refreshing rarities by Zelenka, Domenico Scarlatti and Telemann so engagingly that one didn’t miss the old standbys at all.

on November 05, 2019 at 9:40 AM
In Memoriam Raymond Leppard In Memoriam Raymond Leppard

Trove Thursday acknowledges the late Raymond Leppard‘s important influence with a live broadcast of his seminal “realisation” of Cavalli’s L’Ormindo plus some Cavalli and Monteverdi tidbits with Janet Baker.

on October 31, 2019 at 10:00 AM
The Coronation of Lisette The Coronation of Lisette

Sunday’s Richard Tucker Gala at Carnegie Hall was unusually satisfying despite a less than usually superstarry line-up.

on October 28, 2019 at 11:28 AM
Lone, wild, and strange Lone, wild, and strange

Trove Thursday presents Michael Fabiano in one of his specialties as the dashing hero of Il Corsaro torn between Tamara Wilson and Nicole Cabell.

on October 24, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Drag me to hell Drag me to hell

My first-ever Met Sunday opera brought the welcome return of Gluck’s sublime Orfeo ed Euridice in an enchanting afternoon that combined elegant conducting, joyous dancing and Jamie Barton’s extraordinary hero.

on October 21, 2019 at 11:02 AM
Orfeo ed Euridice Orfeo ed Euridice

Gluck’s sublime Orfeo ed Euridice makes a welcome return to the Met.

on October 20, 2019 at 6:39 PM
Olympie Olympie

Trove Thursday presents Spontini’s Olimpie, featuring the seemingly mismatched pairing of Pilar Lorengar and Fiorenza Cossotto.

on October 17, 2019 at 10:10 AM
Agrippina Agrippina

“Trove Thursday” presents for the third annual installment of “Handel for my Birthday” a wickedly ideal Felicity Palmer dominating Agrippina.

on October 10, 2019 at 10:00 AM
A Norman conquest A Norman conquest

When I first heard of this broadcast my thought was to save it to celebrate Jessye Norman‘s 75th birthday in 2020.

on October 03, 2019 at 10:00 AM