Parterre Box

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

A performance recorded earlier this summer at The Santa Fe Opera

A favorite Wagner performance from Mr. Portafiori A favorite Wagner performance from Mr. Portafiori

I went to hear Eileen Farrell conducted by Leonard Bernstein at the Philharmonic in 1970.

Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin

A live broadcast from the Verbier Festival

Bernstein Double Bill Bernstein Double Bill

Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place in a performance recorded last fall in London

A favorite Wagner performance from grimoaldo2 A favorite Wagner performance from grimoaldo2

I suppose Der fliegende Holländer is my favorite Wagner opera — a riveting masterpiece from start to finish, dramatically and musically.

Ice ice baby Ice ice baby

A recent review of Olga Maslova as Aïda is as good a reason as any to share a clip of her fascinating Turandot

Maria Stuarda Maria Stuarda

Lisette Oropesa and Kate Lindsey star in a live video broadcast from Salzburg

A favorite Wagner performance from Peter A favorite Wagner performance from Peter

Eleanor Steber and Wolfgang Windgassen in the Act III bridal chamber scene of Lohengrin.

Lohengrin Lohengrin

A performance recorded earlier today at the Bayreuth Festival

Robert Wilson 1941-2025 Robert Wilson 1941-2025

The groundbreaking director and designer of works like Einstein on the Beach died earlier today at his home in Water Mill, New York

Let me change your mind about Mady Mesplé Let me change your mind about Mady Mesplé

Mady Mesplé’s voice has, sadly, become an acquired taste.

Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung

The final installment of the 2025 Ring from Bayreuth

Parsifal Parsifal

A performance recorded earlier today at the Bayreuth Festival

Change my mind about Anja Silja Change my mind about Anja Silja

I never got to hear Silja in person, and I suspect I should have for me to even begin to appreciate her.

Change my mind about Jerome Hines Change my mind about Jerome Hines

This clip is a strong case for leaving non-operatic music alone.

Siegfried Siegfried

The third installment of the 2025 Ring from Bayreuth

La bohème La bohème

A performance recorded at The Santa Fe Opera earlier this summer

The Critic: Friend, Foe, or Finished? The Critic: Friend, Foe, or Finished?

Parterre Box critics Emma Hoffman and Max Keller and friend of the Box Emery Kerekes talk what’s next for classical music criticism with Ben Gambuzza of The Best is Noise

Die Walküre Die Walküre

A slightly delayed broadcast of the second installment of this year’s Ring from Bayreuth

Change my mind about Regietheater Change my mind about Regietheater

Carmen Paddock and Mr. Portafiori aren’t getting the hype behind Ivo van Hove, Krzysztof Warlikowski, and Calitxo Bieito

Giulio Cesare in Egitto Giulio Cesare in Egitto

A live broadcast from the Salzburg Festival

Change my mind about <em>Vanessa</em> Change my mind about <em>Vanessa</em>

I know, as a musical gay boy d’un certain âge I supposed to consider this the great American opera, the equal if not superior to anything by Britten and preferable to any of that atonal garbage from the Continent.

Das Rheingold Das Rheingold

A live broadcast of the first installment of this summer’s Ring from Bayreuth

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

A live broadcast of the opening of the 2025 Bayreuth Festival