Turandot
Marco Armiliato conducts Liudmyla Monastyrska (Turandot), Yonghoon Lee (Calàf), Ermonela Jaho (Liù) and Ferruccio Furlanetto (Timur).
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.
Send me an Angel
Soprano Angel Blue has been named the winner of the 2022 Richard Tucker Award.
Un ballo in maschera
Live from La Scala, Nicola Luisotti conducts Francesco Meli, Luca Salsi and Sondra Radvanovsky.
Fresh blood
A controversial new Lucia at the Met fascinated the cher public last month.
Tristan und Isolde
Just starting from the vienna State Opera.
Lucia di Lammermoor
Riccardo Frizza conducts Nadine Sierra, Javier Camarena and Artur Rucinski.
Lucia di Lammermoor
Evelino Pidò leads Lisette Oropesa, Benjamin Bernheim and George Petean in this live broadcast from the Vienna State Opera.
The Gershwins’ ‘Porgy and Bess’
Angel Blue and Eric Owens are featured in this repeat broadcast.
Die Walküre, Act 1
Elisabeth Teige and Brandon Jovanovich are the cursed twins in this production from the Deutsche Oper Berlin, directed by Stefan Herheim.
Das Rheingold
From the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Sir Donald Runnicles conducts and Stefan Herheim directs a new production of Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Elektra
Live from the Met, Donald Runnicles conducts Nina Stemme (Elektra), Lise Davidsen (Chrysothemis), Michaela Schuster (Klytämnestra), Greer Grimsley (Orest), Stefan Vinke (Aegisth).
Eugene Onegin
Baritone Igor Golovatenko returns on the heels of an impressive 2019 Met debut in The Queen of Spades to sing the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects Tatiana, much to his later dismay.
Le nozze di Figaro
James Gaffigan; Christian Van Horn (Figaro), Ying Fang (Susanna), Federica Lombardi (Countess Almaviva), Gerald Finley (Count Almaviva), Sasha Cooke (Cherubino), Elizabeth Bishop (Marcellina), Maurizio Muraro (Dr. Bartolo).
Contact in Red Square
The conundrum “Whose side is Anna Netrebko on?” fascinated the readers of parterre box in March.
She’s funny that way
Happy 82nd birthday to actress Penelope Keith.
Eugene Onegin
Ailyn Pérez is Tatiana opposite Igor Golovatenko in the title role of the urbane nobleman who rejects her, much to his later dismay.
Elektra
Two thrilling sopranos join forces as Nina Stemme reprises her acclaimed portrayal of the title heroine and Lise Davidsen makes her role debut as Chrysothemis.
Wozzeck
Philippe Jordan conducts Christian Gerhaher, Sean Panikkar, Jörg Schneider, Dmitry Belosselskiy and Anja Kampe in a live performance from the Vienna State Opera.
Anti-war Anna
Anna Netrebko has issued a statement explicitly condemning the war in Ukraine.
Second banana
Happy 73rd birthday actress, comedian, talk show host, and singer Vicki Lawrence.
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).
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!
