parterre box

The Met should revive Oberon The Met should revive Oberon

Great score; let anyone but Jeremy Sams concoct a new libretto!

on February 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The Met should revive La Gioconda The Met should revive La Gioconda

It used to be proverbial on the Met Opera Quiz, usually quoted by quiz master Edward Downes: “If you can’t remember where a certain plot event occurs … it happens in La Gioconda.

on February 26, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The Met should revive Maria di Rudenz The Met should revive Maria di Rudenz

I know that there is no chance that Met will ever do this since they have decided to focus on contemporary opera at the expense of reviving older works. Still it has some of Donizetti’s most moving and striking moments. The plot is so over the top gothic that it could still be quite effective.

on February 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Paranorma activity Paranorma activity

Following the peek at Asmik Grigorian‘s attempt, parterre box humbly offers an in-house snippet of Federica Lombardi‘s “Casta Diva” from a few blocks over on the Ringstrasse

on February 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Met should revive Armide The Met should revive Armide

More action than in Gluck‘s other great works, and plenty of opportunities for scenic spectacle.

on February 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Götterdämmerung Götterdämmerung

The conclusion of Romeo Castellucci‘s Pierre Audi‘s Ring cycle live from Brussels

on February 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The Met should revive The Fiery Angel The Met should revive The Fiery Angel

It’s time to correct the pandemic’s error in canceling the scheduled 2020-21 production.

on February 23, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Falstaff Falstaff

Leonard Bernstein conducts a performance recorded in New York in 1964

on February 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Castor et Pollux Castor et Pollux

Teodor Currentzis conducts Rameau‘s opera in a performance recorded earlier this month in Paris

on February 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Met should revive The Aspern Papers The Met should revive The Aspern Papers

Samuel Barber may have had an edge as melodist over Dominick Argento, but the latter had a far better instinct as dramatist, and his 1988 setting of Henry James’s The Aspern Papers is overdue for a Met premiere. It is a gripping work of musical psychodrama.

on February 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Sediziosa voce Sediziosa voce

Ahead of a broadcast in Europe on Arte on Sunday, parterre box has snagged a snippet of Asmik Grigorian‘s eagerly anticipated role debut as Norma in Vienna

on February 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Met should revive Jonny spielt auf The Met should revive Jonny spielt auf

Jonny spielt auf by Ernst Krenek could be a lot of rollicking fun, especially if a director and design team leaned into creating a 1927 world that acknowledged modernist art movements, silent film acting aesthetics, and the use of historical film footage of nightlife and cityscapes of the time.

on February 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Rigoletto Rigoletto

A live broadcast from Florence’s Maggio Musical Fiorentino

on February 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Met should revive Die Gezeichneten The Met should revive Die Gezeichneten

It will never happen, but a girl can dream.

on February 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Metropolitan Opera 2025-26 Metropolitan Opera 2025-26

The Metropolitan Opera has revealed its upcoming season.

on February 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin

A live broadcast from Milan

on February 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Met should revive Lucrezia Borgia The Met should revive Lucrezia Borgia

Lucrezia Borgia — given only one night more than a century ago. Giustizia per Lucrezia!!!

on February 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The Met should revive Maria Stuarda The Met should revive Maria Stuarda

Now that Lisette Oropesa is doing the McVicar co-production of Maria Stuarda in Madrid, can the Met revive it with her?

on February 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The Met should revive La voix humaine and Erwartung The Met should revive La voix humaine and Erwartung

While I have an entire laundry list of operas (Maria Regina d’Inghilterra, Loreley, La Wally, Sadko, The Snow Maiden, The Golden Cockerel, La Fiamma, and many others) I wish the Met would do – especially after Medea was such a success – I think realistically speaking this double-bill would be lovely for Sondra Radvanovsky at this point.

on February 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Lucrezia Borgia Lucrezia Borgia

A live opening night broadcast from Rome.

on February 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Met should revive The Nose The Met should revive The Nose

William Kentridge‘s production of The Nose. I think it’s his strongest production for the Met, the piece is a masterpiece and this is a time for absurdity. Bring in Maestro Keri-Lynn Wilson who did such an outstanding job with Mtsensk.

on February 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Orpheus and Eurydice Orpheus and Eurydice

A live streaming performance from The Dallas Opera.

on February 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Ariadne auf Naxos Ariadne auf Naxos

Jessye Norman sings the title role of a performance recorded in New York in 1985

on February 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Le maschere Le maschere

A rare performance of Mascagni’s opera recorded at the Wexford Festival last fall.

on February 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM