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.

Happy ending Happy ending

This week Trove Thursday endeavors to broaden his exposure with a bubbly performance of Il Marito Disperato starring Sylvia Geszty.

on March 09, 2017 at 3:09 PM
Beyond the sea Beyond the sea

“Trove Thursday” presents Mozart’s Idomeneo with superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann in the title role.

on March 02, 2017 at 8:06 AM
Conquering hero Conquering hero

Today is Handel’s 332nd birthday and “Trove Thursday” celebrates with a rare live broadcast of his best-known opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto.

on February 23, 2017 at 8:30 AM
Hooray for Holy Land Hooray for Holy Land

Trove Thursday presents as compensation Verdi’s Jérusalem with Cecilia Gasdia, Veriano Luchetti and Silvano Carroli conducted by Donato Renzetti.

on February 16, 2017 at 8:00 AM
Loin des remparts de Séville Loin des remparts de Séville

“Trove Thursday” presents an intriguingly unconventional all-star performance of Bizet’s Carmen featuring Christa Ludwig.

on February 09, 2017 at 9:00 AM
She doth teach the torches to burn bright! She doth teach the torches to burn bright!

“Trove Thursday” presents Ann Hallenberg and Franco Fagioli in the title roles of a true rarity: Giulietta e Romeo by Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli.

on February 02, 2017 at 11:57 AM
While you were sheeping While you were sheeping

To mark Mozart’s 260th birthday tomorrow, “Trove Thursday” offers his infrequently performed bucolic opera Il Re Pastore with the sublime Arleen Augér as its heroine and Edith Mathis as her shepherd-lover.

on January 26, 2017 at 11:27 AM
La bontà in trionfo La bontà in trionfo

“Trove Thursday” offers a sparkling performance of Rossini’s La Cenerentola from our nation’s capital featuring the scintillating conducting of Claudio Abbado and Lucia Valentini-Terrani in the title role. 

on January 20, 2017 at 12:32 PM
Nadir at zenith Nadir at zenith

Les Pêcheurs de Perles with an impressive Francophone cast headed by the superb Nadir of Alain Vanzo, one of my favorite tenors.

on January 12, 2017 at 9:00 AM
Suivez-moi dans le temple Suivez-moi dans le temple

2017 happily brings the return of Trove Thursday with a rare and enthralling live performance of Gluck’s Alceste featuring Jessye Norman.

on January 05, 2017 at 9:10 AM
Hidden in plane sight Hidden in plane sight

“Trove Thursday” instead presents a rare Cavalli opera, Il Xerse, from 1665, featuring the lovely Swedish mezzo Kristina Hammarström in the title role.

on September 01, 2016 at 12:17 PM
Statue of limitations Statue of limitations

“Trove Thursday” has resurrected Hérold’s Zampaou La fiancée de marbre performed by Les Arts Florissants.

on August 25, 2016 at 9:00 AM
That’s how they did it That’s how they did it

Idomeneo proved enormously moving while a much more complicated Così fan Tutte went for shallow romantic hijinks stripping that work of its darkly ambiguous disturbing view of love.

on August 22, 2016 at 11:47 AM
La Duchesse s’amuse La Duchesse s’amuse

As promised, “Trove Thursday” offers Don Quichote chez la duchesse, a second nearly unknown opera based on Cervantes’ towering literary masterpiece.

on August 18, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Wagner, where you least expect it Wagner, where you least expect it

“Trove Thursday” offers a Der Fliegende Holländer from New York City Opera featuring the underrated American soprano Johanna Meier.

on August 11, 2016 at 9:00 AM
With honor With honor

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with an unexpected heroine: the electrifying Julia Varady, seduced and abandoned by the suavely ardent Giacomo Aragall.

on August 04, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Wer ein solches Weib errungen Wer ein solches Weib errungen

Opera at Caramoor rallied Sunday afternoon with an admirable if erratic performance of Fidelio which was especially memorable for South African soprano Elza van den Heever’s thrilling first-ever Leonore.

on August 02, 2016 at 8:57 AM
A free soul A free soul

“Trove Thursday” presents Beethoven’s Leonore, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf .

on July 28, 2016 at 9:00 AM
A very little night music A very little night music

The unevenly-beating Heart unfortunately proved less than the sum of its deluxe parts.

on July 26, 2016 at 1:42 PM
When the sun comes out When the sun comes out

This year as part of Bard’s “Puccini and His World” festival audiences may witness the resurrection of Mascagni’s distinctly odd Iris.

on July 25, 2016 at 12:36 PM
“Troppo” notte “Troppo” notte

Thanks to the generosity of a parterre reader, “Trove Thursday” presents a rare recording from the famed Carnegie Hall series curated by Matthew Epstein to commemorate Handel’s tercentenary.

on July 21, 2016 at 8:30 AM
Woman behind bars Woman behind bars

“Trove Thursday” presentsFerdinando Paër’s 1804 Leonora ossia L’Amore coniugale.

on July 14, 2016 at 7:27 PM
Neighbors Neighbors

If you were in New York on July 7, 1975 chances are you were at the Met reveling in the visiting Bolshoi Opera’s Eugene Onegin.

on July 07, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Sunset, Sunrise Sunset, Sunrise

This Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson from breast cancer.

on June 30, 2016 at 10:45 AM