Eli Jacobson

Tucker and roll Tucker and roll

The Richard Tucker Foundation Gala has always been a big annual celebration of the voice with an emphasis on big-voiced singers in big repertoire (not much Wagner usually, though…). Like so many reliable operatic institutions it has struggled for survival after the pandemic.

on November 01, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Castanet diva Castanet diva

Lisette Oropesa, a product of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, has not been seen much on the stage of the Met in recent seasons.

on October 29, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Nice piece of <i>Tales</i> Nice piece of <i>Tales</i>

Les Contes d’Hoffmann is something of a puzzle in which some of the pieces are missing and others been altered to fit since Offenbach died before he could complete and revise the work.

on September 27, 2024 at 9:00 AM
What ever happened to her? What ever happened to her?

When the subject of New York City Opera comes up, you always hear the same query: “What happened to City Opera? Are they even performing these days??”

on August 30, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Pansexual relations Pansexual relations

Love makes fools of us all – that seems to be the theme of this summer’s Glimmerglass Festival.

on August 26, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Come, young waverers Come, young waverers

Too young to be in love. But not too young to go to war or to die.

on July 30, 2024 at 9:00 AM
A happening in Central Park A happening in Central Park

The outdoor recitals that the Metropolitan Opera presents in New York City Parks every summer are a wonderful way to showcase rising young stars and promising beginners from the Met’s Lindemann Program.

on July 01, 2024 at 9:00 AM
It may not have been echt, but it was fun! It may not have been echt, but it was fun!

On June 11th, the Met Orchestra returned to Carnegie Hall with a diverse program led by music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

on June 18, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Women of the <em>Hours</em> Women of the <em>Hours</em>

In its first go-around in November 2022, Kevin Puts’s The Hours (libretto by Greg Pierce based on the novel by Michael Cunningham and the screenplay for the Stephen Daldry’s 2002 film was a box office bullseye for the Metropolitan Opera.

on May 07, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Miracle on 64th Street Miracle on 64th Street

Only connect! So sayeth E.M. Forster (via Margaret Wilcox) in Howard’s End.

on April 25, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Blow the house down Blow the house down

Hailed as the first opera by an African-American composer performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones was a huge audience and box office hit in the Fall of 2021 when it reopened the Met after two seasons shut down by COVID-19.

on April 11, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Decadent genealogies Decadent genealogies

Arnold Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder and Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot are, in their different ways, the final decadent flowering of a musical tradition at its twilight.

on April 05, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Brazilian brass lift Brazilian brass lift

The past seems to be in conversation with the present.

on March 20, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Repent for the time is at hand Repent for the time is at hand

Traditional Christianity has always used the threat of dying unabsolved and going to Hell as a tool to get us not only to accept Jesus but also obey the dictates of the Church. Last week in New York, two classical works touched on the theme of repentance and absolution.

on February 05, 2024 at 9:00 AM
But not Rose But not Rose

parterre box is excited to present again Mike Richter’s collection of recordings of Rose Ader along with this biographical tribute in honor of a significant artist whose Jewish identity perhaps prevented her from achieving the renown she deserved

on January 27, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Old school and better for it Old school and better for it

As far as I know, Juan Diego Flórez last appeared in New York City (not totally to his advantage) as Alfredo in the Met’s garish new production of La Traviata back in December 2018, nearly five years ago.

on December 01, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Before we croak Before we croak

AristophanesThe Frogs is a comedy with a lump in its throat – laughter coming from tears.

on November 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Keeper of the dumpster fire Keeper of the dumpster fire

To get right to the point, the performance did not come together despite some good elements and was a major missed opportunity.

on November 02, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Cuck and ball torture Cuck and ball torture

On October 20th, a wet but warmish Friday night, the Metropolitan Opera opened this season’s revival of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera in David Alden’s 2012 production.

on October 23, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Tremens factus sum ego Tremens factus sum ego

One got a sense that the Met and the maestro directed most of the rehearsal and preparation toward the opening night premiere of the Heggie opus

on September 29, 2023 at 2:09 PM
The king of queens The king of queens

In the case of this summer’s resuscitation project at the Bard Summerscape Festival, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Henri VIII , it was quite evident that this is a dramatically sound work with consistently well-crafted, theatrically vital and attractive music that provides at least three roles for gifted singing actors.

on July 25, 2023 at 4:14 PM
It takes a fairy to make something pretty It takes a fairy to make something pretty

Teatro Nuovo took a spirited journey of rediscovery into the valley of forgotten operas and resurrected Federico and Luigi Ricci’s 1850 opera buffa Crispino e la Comare last Thursday at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

on July 24, 2023 at 3:50 PM
It’s hard to be a saint in the city It’s hard to be a saint in the city

It was thrilling to see and hear Will Crutchfield’s insights come to life onstage in performance when Teatro Nuovo performed Poliuto at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center Wednesday July 19.

on July 23, 2023 at 9:00 AM
A summer of solace A summer of solace

From Christian martyrs to naughty fairies, Teatro Nuovo will explore the tragic and comic sides of 19th century Italian Opera.

on July 15, 2023 at 10:03 AM