parterre box
Two women singing an operatic love duet is virtually an everyday occurrence, but two men? Not so much.
Julian Budden‘s masterful, three-volume analysis of the entire Verdi oeuvre is fascinating reading.
Although presented as an overview of the performance of Italian opera from the first half of the 19th century, Divas and Scholars is really an impassioned defense of musicology as a discipline and of Italian opera as a subject worthy of scholarly attention.
If you love the astonishing vocal works of J. S. Bach, John Eliott Gardiner’s 2013 book is a deeply rewarding read.
A fascinating autobiography that delivers both on the diva anecdotes and on intelligent artistic observations about the singer’s life.
Fascinating account of the role of musical theater in an uneasy context of art emerging from the conflict and resolutions of high culture and popular sentimentality in an era where elites were challenged by political instability.
The final Saturday Matinee Broadcast of the 2024-25 season, live from New York
Man, I tried so hard to get this commissioned as a radio drama, because I want everyone to know what a ride this book is.