Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin

I shall marry the Miller’s daughter I shall marry the Miller’s daughter

I grew up with the Anna Moffo recording of Luisa Miller, so it was fortuitous that the Met gave the premiere of a new production in 1968, around the time RCA released the album.

on February 22, 2016 at 9:00 AM
We have begun to celebrate the different ways We have begun to celebrate the different ways

Nixon in China is one of several titles that when I tell people that it’s on my Top Ten Favorite list of operas, I get strange looks.

on February 16, 2016 at 12:17 AM
Out of the passerine Out of the passerine

Here’s a lesser piece by a great composer, single-handedly “rescued” for our generation by Angela Gheorghiu.

on February 08, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Unfiltered Unfiltered

t’s with great joy that I am able to give you Carmen, sung in Italian, from La Scala in 1931.  I love this kind of stuff.

on February 01, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Ihre hochfürstliche Gnaden, die Frau Fürstin Feldmarschall! Ihre hochfürstliche Gnaden, die Frau Fürstin Feldmarschall!

God, I love that photo of Lisa della Casa. She can sing, too!

on January 25, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Not since Ilium Not since Ilium

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my two favorite operas is Les Troyens,

on January 18, 2016 at 4:43 PM
From the house of the living From the house of the living

Pierre Boulez continuously challenged me and totally changed the way I listen to music.

on January 11, 2016 at 11:37 AM
Fetching boys of Peter Grimes Fetching boys of Peter Grimes

This week’s “Montag mit Marianne” highlights an extremely homoerotic Peter Grimes at Theater an der Wien (Christof Loy, Regisseur.)

on January 04, 2016 at 12:05 PM
Prendete questo fiore Prendete questo fiore

A much-loved diva overdue for this site is Anna Moffo.

on December 28, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Feast forward Feast forward

It may be bordering on cliché, but here’s the Bach Weihnachtsoratorium, complete with all six sections.

on December 21, 2015 at 9:30 AM
Deep in my art, dear Deep in my art, dear

I give you a complete performance of Stephen Sondheim‘s Sunday in the Park with George from the Théâtre du Châtelet.

on December 14, 2015 at 11:22 AM
Dienstag mit Marianne Dienstag mit Marianne

I think my love/hate relationship with Händel stems from the fact that during my early days as an operagoer there simply wasn’t any to hear.

on December 08, 2015 at 8:00 AM
Stranger in paradise Stranger in paradise

A while back, there was a great outcry for some Meyerbeer…

on November 30, 2015 at 9:00 AM
There never was a woman like Gilda There never was a woman like Gilda

Has anyone ever seen a truly great production of La forza del destino?

on November 23, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Girl of the Golden North Girl of the Golden North

Two years before she brought the role to Wiener Staatsoper in a production somewhat dominated by Jonas Kaufmann, soprano Nina Stemme sang her first-ever Minnie in La fanciulla del West at Stockholm’s Royal Opera. 

on November 16, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Sind das die Cherubim, die ihre Stimmen heben? Sind das die Cherubim, die ihre Stimmen heben?

It’s time for the annual celebration of the birth of Leonie Rysanek (who, as you know, is your alte Jungfer’s Diva of Divas).

on November 09, 2015 at 9:00 AM
L’univers frémit d’amour! L’univers frémit d’amour!

Chances are that if you know the title Esclarmonde, you pretty much already know the basics.

on November 02, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Dream girl Dream girl

Whatever happened to Stefania Bonfadelli?

on October 26, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Alpha and omega Alpha and omega

On Wednesday, the still-active, still radiant Virginia Zeani turns 90.

on October 19, 2015 at 9:00 AM
A touch of class A touch of class

Among the goals for my Mixcloud page are more Mozart, and to pay tribute to more of our living legends.

on October 12, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Head over heels Head over heels

I guess you have spoken: “Bring us insane divas in operas we already know!”

on October 05, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Sturm and/or drang Sturm and/or drang

My attempt at garnering some attention for forgotten and ignored Czech operas hasn’t exactly been a success.

on September 28, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Moor than a feeling Moor than a feeling

For those of you who can’t make it to the Met’s opening night, I am happy to provide you the opportunity to experience another Otello with a cast that was unmatchable for 1981.

on September 21, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Il nome dello straniero Il nome dello straniero

While they seemed made for each other as stage partners, Montserrat Caballé and Luciano Pavarotti sang relatively few performances together.

on September 14, 2015 at 9:00 AM