Maria Stuarda
Heading the cast of this Irish National Opera production is mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught.
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.
Rienzi
Marc Albrecht leads Wagner’s early grand opera, recorded June 22 at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest.
La fanciulla del West
From the Staatsoper Berlin, Anja Kampe sings Minnie, Marcelo Álvarez is the bandit Dick Johnson and Michael Volle plays Jack Rance. Massimo Zanetti conducts.
Parsifal
The cast includes Toby Spence in the title role and Katerina Karnéus as Kundry and the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North are conducted by Richard Farnes.
The ‘Woods’, the bad and the ugly
In a slow month for opera, parterre box readers turned their attention to a musical: Into the Woods.
La traviata
In this video from 2015, soprano Lisette Oropesa makes her role debut as Violetta in a new production of Verdi’s La traviata at the Academy of Music.
Samson et Dalila
Baritone-turned-tenor SeokJong Baek and superstar mezzo Elina Garanca take the title roles in Richard Jones‘s new production of Saint-Saëns’s biblical opera.
Turandot
A new production of Puccini’s lyric drama is conducted by Zubin Mehta and directed by Philipp Stölzl.
Thaïs
Ermonela Jaho and Ludovic Tézier are featured in a performance recorded at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées à Paris.
Rigoletto
Quinn Kelsey gives a commanding performance in the title role, alongside Erin Morley as Gilda and Stephen Costello as the Duke of Mantua.
La Gioconda
Live from La Scala, Ponchielli’s melodrama featuring Saioa Hernández, Daniela Barcellona, Erwin Schrott, Anna Maria Chiuri, Fabio Sartori Stefano La Colla and Roberto Frontali, conducted by Frédéric Chaslin.
Hamlet
Allan Clayton stars as Shakespeare’s tortured Dane, alongside Brenda Rae as Ophelia, Sarah Connolly as Gertrude, Rod Gilfry as Claudius, and John Relyea as the ghost of Hamlet’s father.
Wave the flag
A very political month indeed focused sharply on the Met’s revival of Turandot.
The Rake’s Progress
Maestro Susanna Mälkki (not pictured) leads Stravinsky’s ingenious neoclassical satire.
Experience has made me rich
Happy 51st birthday to Broadway and soundtrack diva Idina Menzel.
Akhnaten
Karen Kamensek conducts Anthony Roth Costanzo (Akhnaten), Rihab Chaieb (Nefertiti), Zachary James (Amenhotep III), Disella Lárusdóttir (Queen Tye), Aaron Blake (High Priest of Amon), Richard Bernstein (Aye), Will Liverman (Horemhab)
La bohème
Eleonora Buratto, fresh off a successful run in the title role of Madama Butterfly, stars as the ill-fated seamstress Mimì, opposite Matthew Polenzani as her lover, the poet Rodolfo.
Lucia di Lammermoor
Riccardo Frizza conducts Nadine Sierra (Lucia), Javier Camarena (Edgardo), Artur Rucinski (Enrico) and Christian Van Horn (Raimondo.)
The two faces of Karita
An evening with Finland’s most famous opera star.
Hamlet
Brett Dean‘s operatic treatment of the Bard makes its Metropolitan Opera premiere.
Teresa Berganza 1933 – 2022
The beloved concert and opera singer died earlier today.
Bohemian rhapsody
Tenor Yusif Eyvazov, who was scheduled to sing Rodolfo in the upcoming four performances of Puccini’s La bohème, is ill and has withdrawn.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
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).
