Parterre Box

Malena Ernman sings “Jul, jul, strålande jul” Malena Ernman sings “Jul, jul, strålande jul”

This has been my favorite Christmas song since I first heard this performance, the opening track of Malena Ernman‘s first Christmas album.

Anne-Sofie von Otter sings “Koppangen” Anne-Sofie von Otter sings “Koppangen”

There’s plenty of full-on Christmas music to love in Anne Sophie von Otter‘s “Home for Christmas.”

Christmas with Renata Scotto at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Christmas with Renata Scotto at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

I bought this album because I found the photo on the cover to be Camp.

Ritorna un’altra volta Ritorna un’altra volta

Parterre Box anticipates Ailyn Peréz‘s upcoming New York performances of Madama Butterfly with the Puccini role most closely associated with her

Renata Tebaldi sings “Tu scendi dalle stelle” Renata Tebaldi sings “Tu scendi dalle stelle”

When I first listened years ago as a baby opera queen to Tebaldi‘s 1971 “Christmas Festival,” I could not get over just how enfeebled she sounded.

“Last Christmas” at the 2014 Christmas in Vienna concert “Last Christmas” at the 2014 Christmas in Vienna concert

“Vesselina’s Chest Voice” is my new drag name.

Joan Sutherland sings “Joy to the World” Joan Sutherland sings “Joy to the World”

Dear Joan with her trills and ornaments brings “Joy to the World” every holiday season. Wishing a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

I do declare I do declare

This spring’s Talk of the Town is craving your operatic dominance and your submissions by January 15.

Charlotte Margiono sings “Joseph, lieber Joseph mein” Charlotte Margiono sings “Joseph, lieber Joseph mein”

Christmas kitsch is great fun, of course, but Christmas can be just as wonderful without it, as this great singer proves.

Leontyne Price sings “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” Leontyne Price sings “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”

Christmas should be over the top, opulent, a little sad, utterly sincere, and ever so vulgar.

My sister’s keeper My sister’s keeper

Grand Tier Grab Bag highlights La Scala’s opening night prima donna Sara Jakubiak with an excerpt of her Chrysothemis recorded last year.

Joan Sutherland sings “The Twelve Days of Christmas” Joan Sutherland sings “The Twelve Days of Christmas”

Auntie Joan goes the whole nine yards on this one and invigorates it to make it work in a way as no one else can.

Jamie Barton sings “Maria Wiegenlied” Jamie Barton sings “Maria Wiegenlied”

Like Type 2 Diabetes, symptoms of YAS (Yuletide Aversion Syndrome) commonly creep up on gay men after manopause.

Happy holidays from Mary Costa, Bing Crosby, and Robert Goulet Happy holidays from Mary Costa, Bing Crosby, and Robert Goulet

This month’s theme – “Opera singers celebrate the holidays” – conjured up a vast lexicon of memories of growing up in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Jonas Kaufmann sings “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Jonas Kaufmann sings “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

“It duz… not… SCHVING!!!!”

Kathleen Battle sings “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Kathleen Battle sings “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

One of my favorite Christmas recordings is Kathleen Battle‘s A Christmas Celebration.

Lightning strikes twice Lightning strikes twice

New York audiences got a taste of Ben Bliss in Mozart this fall, but this week Grand Tier Grab Bag offers snippets of the tenor trying his hand at Handel earlier this year.

Gabriela Beňačková sings Czech Christmas Music Gabriela Beňačková sings Czech Christmas Music

Gabriela Beňačková is featured in a wonderful Christmas album called Carolling, released by Supraphon in the early 1990s.

Renata Tebaldi sings “O Divine Redeemer” Renata Tebaldi sings “O Divine Redeemer”

“O Divine Redeemer” is, I suppose, more properly an Advent or Lenten piece. But when Renata Tebaldi asks us to hear her “croy”, who can resist?

Anna Moffo sings “O Holy Night” Anna Moffo sings “O Holy Night”

Anna Moffo, in glorious voice and looking gorgeous as usual, sings “O Holy Night,” one of my favorite Christmas tunes.

I’m still thinking about George Tabori’s <em>Pagliacci</em> I’m still thinking about George Tabori’s <em>Pagliacci</em>

I love Tabori—his staging of Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung are among my five favorite opera performances of all time.

Out of the mouths of babes Out of the mouths of babes

Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.

I’m still thinking about Laurent Pelly’s <em>Il turco in Italia</em> I’m still thinking about Laurent Pelly’s <em>Il turco in Italia</em>

Ha ha ha, so gorgeous!

Oceanic feeling Oceanic feeling

Grand Tier Grab Bag features a complete performance of Ernest Chausson‘s Poème de l’amour et de la mer ahead of a particular year for both its soloist and conductor.