The Ghosts of Versailles
John Corigliano and William M. Hoffmann‘s gay fantasia on royalist themes, as telecast on January 10, 1992.
La Cieca
James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.
Ariadne auf Naxos
Lise Davidsen, Stephen Gould and Erin Morley star in this performance from the Vienna State Opera.
Il trittico
From the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Iolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle
Conducted by Valery Gergiev; starring Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala in Iolanta, and Nadja Michael and Mikhail Petrenko in Bluebeard’s Castle. Transmitted live on February 14, 2015.
Aida
Sondra Radvanovksy heads the cast in this performance from the Vienna State Opera on March 28, 2015.
From a distance
Of 511 epidemiologists polled, about two thirds expect that it will be more than one year from now before they expect to “attend a sporting event, concert or play.”
La clemenza di Tito
Harry Bicket leads Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elina Garanca, Kate Lindsey and Giuseppe Filianoti in this Met HD telecast from December 1, 2012.
Thaïs
Mean, moody magnificent Renée Fleming puts the “tease” in “courtesan.”
Madama Butterfly
A one-time stream of the Princeton Festival’s 2018 production.
Otello
Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin; starring Sonya Yoncheva, Aleksandrs Antonenko, and Zeljko Lucic. Transmitted live on October 17, 2015.
The Exterminating Angel
Thomas Adès conducts his own massively ironic pastiche of an opera, as telecast in the Met’s Live in HD series on November 18, 2017.
Bad news bared
The Metropolitan Opera is heading for a very rocky couple of years.
Parsifal
The legendary Calixto Bieito production of Wagner’s music drama, streamed from Staatsoper Stuttgart.
Tosca
Starring Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti and Cornell MacNeil. Transmitted live on December 19, 1978.
Elektra
Featuring Anna Larsson, Nina Stemme, Gun-Brit Barkmin, Norbert Ernst and Falk Struckmann, conducted by Mikko Franck.
Orfeo ed Euridice
Stephanie Blythe, Danielle de Niese and Heidi Grant Murphy star, conducted by James Levine. From January 24, 2009.
Lulu
Marlis Petersen in the title role of Berg’s masterpiece in William Kentridge’s enthralling production.
Blackout Tuesday
The Metropolitan Opera has paused its streaming opera telecasts today to observe Blackout Tuesday.
Rigoletto
Michael Fabiano, Quinn Kelsey and Olga Peretyatko star in this production from the Paris Opéra Bastille.
I puritani
Conducted by Patrick Summers; starring Anna Netrebko, Eric Cutler, Franco Vassallo and John Relyea. Transmitted live on January 6, 2007.
Met postpones opening to December 31
The Metropolitan Opera announced today that the company has made the difficult decision to cancel the first few months of its 2020–21 season, based on current information regarding the ongoing health crisis. The new season is now scheduled to begin on December 31, 2020, with a special gala performance, the details of which will be shared at a later date.
Monday concert
Bass Günther Groissböck headlines a live program of songs, chamber music and dance from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Salome
Karita Mattila‘s legendary interpretation in a performance from the Met on October 11, 2008.
Sorochintsy Fair
Barrie Kosky directs Mussorgsky’s comic opera at the Komische Oper Berlin.
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).