Parterre Box
“Du bist die ruh” was one of the first art songs I ever knew.
Ten years since the death of countertenor Brian Asawa, Charles Stanton remembers his friend and corrects the record on his untimely passing.
This task feels near impossible, as I listen to a LOT of art song singers on repeat, across decades and continents (from piano to orchestral works) — mostly for pleasure, but also for study.
I listen to about as much art song as I do opera and could have filled every day of April with favorite selections.
This performance of Poulenc‘s “Les Chemins de l’amour” is a gem.
With Nixon, Klinghoffer, and Andris Nelsons on the mind, Parterre Box offers a recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent John Adams outing.
A very haunting Hugo Wolf song sung exquisitely here by Arleen Auger.
I had heard the renowned Dutch soprano on recordings and was an admirer of hers. I was unprepared, however, for such a truly memorable evening.
Thanks to Elly Ameling, I made it through college.
Does this count as an art song?
I have always loved this recording of Canteloube‘s Chants d’Auvergne sung by Dawn Upshaw and conducted by Kent Nagano.
Lyric Opera of Chicago announces its 2026-27 season.
Jessye Norman really embraces elements of the song falling somewhere between classical art song and popular ballad.
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
Janet Baker sings Elgar‘s Sea Pictures with such honesty and clarity and fervor.
It’s not where you start but where you Finnish
Wolfgang Holzmair‘s performance was amazing in its personal and intimate approach.
A first-time operagoer is lured to Thaïs at Opera Idaho by the promise of a new experience… and Neil, the Burmese python
William Parker‘s career launch coincided with the closet door fully opening for American male classical vocalists; the cruel irony is that Will was also an early AIDS casualty, gone in 1993 at 49.
This song has always been one of my favorites.
The song recitals I remember most vividly were, unsurprisingly, the most vivid ones.
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
The staggeringly great Ukraine-born Jewish bass Mark Reizen sings “The Ebullient Kura Swirls” a/k/a “The Persian Love Song” by Moldova-born Jewish composer Anton Rubinstein.
Pure class. Kurt Moll really knew his own voice inside out.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
