Parterre Box

Sorrowful mystery Sorrowful mystery

As tenor Pene Pati continues his Rodolfo-across-America tour, parterre box presents a snippet of his role debut as Werther from earlier this year.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Mr. Portafiori A favorite Donizetti performance from Mr. Portafiori

One of my favorite scenes from Donizetti is the Act I finale from Anna Bolena.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Last Castrato A favorite Donizetti performance from Last Castrato

La Favorita is my favorita. Whether it’s Favorita or Favorite, I love them both.

Opera Philadelphia 2025-26 Opera Philadelphia 2025-26

Opera Philadelphia announced today its 50th Anniversary 2025-2026 season, the second under the leadership of Anthony Roth Costanzo, but the first to bear his distinctive imprint.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Darby Fegan A favorite Donizetti performance from Darby Fegan

Fiorenza Cossotto in her prime had few equals, particularly in the Italian repertoire

Anna Bolena Anna Bolena

A live broadcast from Venice’s Teatro la Fenice

A favorite Donizetti performance from Lisette Oropesa A favorite Donizetti performance from Lisette Oropesa

Donizetti wrote so much great music, it’s hard to single out a favorite opera, or even a preferred aria!

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

A live broadcast from New York

More people should listen to Corinne Winters More people should listen to Corinne Winters

After her Mimìs in the springtime Bohème, she will perhaps be less under the radar here.

More people should listen to Ida Miccolis More people should listen to Ida Miccolis

Ida Miccolis (1920-2005), Brazilian soprano, never or rarely sang outside Brazil.

L’opera seria L’opera seria

Florian Leopold Gassmann‘s rare comedy live from Milan

Moby-Dick Moby-Dick

Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer‘s whale of an opera live from New York

More people should listen to Lella Cuberli More people should listen to Lella Cuberli

One of the great Rossini sopranos of the 1980s and sadly under-recorded in that rep.

Mañana por la mañana Mañana por la mañana

One might be surprised to not see the blusteringly charismatic Saioa Hernández mentioned amidst the litany of favorite under-appreciated sopranos. Then one hears what she’s been up to lately.

Die Zauberflöte Die Zauberflöte

A live broadcast from New York

More people should listen to Dorothy Kirsten More people should listen to Dorothy Kirsten

Reading Dorothy Kirsten‘s autobiography twice last year made me revisit her work anew.

More people should listen to Dorothy Maynor More people should listen to Dorothy Maynor

I discovered this magical soprano when I was a teenager, and came across a mixed program RCA Victor LP recital.

More people should listen to Maria Caniglia More people should listen to Maria Caniglia

Maria Caniglia sings with unabashed commitment and honesty. She sings as if the music was born with her.

Stimme der Ungehörten Stimme der Ungehörten

All disciples of the box are reminded one final time to furnish operatic discussion material for the next quarter of The Talk of the Town

More people should listen to Ashley Putnam More people should listen to Ashley Putnam
Iolanta Iolanta

A live broadcast of Tchaikovsky‘s opera from Vienna starring Sonya Yoncheva

More people should listen to Aga Mikolaj More people should listen to Aga Mikolaj

Aga Mikolaj (born Agnieszka Beata Mikolajczyk) sang Strauss and Mozart with a gorgeous, shimmering tone.

More people should listen to Rosanna Carteri More people should listen to Rosanna Carteri

Not exactly obscure, but she has such elegance and poise

Festen Festen

Mark-Anthony Turnage‘s acclaimed new opera based on Thomas Vinterberg‘s film in a recent performance from Covent Garden.