Interview

Promising young women Promising young women

Ahead of her return to the Met, soprano Corinne Winters chats with Kevin Ng about her repertoire, overcoming biases about her voice type, and how she plans to play “energetic, young women” as long as she can.

It has to be more than that It has to be more than that

Before rehearsals for Madama Butterfly started, Phil Chan sat down with the box to chat about his production, opera’s cultural appropriation problem, and why the last thing he’s trying to do is cancel Puccini.

A summer of solace A summer of solace

From Christian martyrs to naughty fairies, Teatro Nuovo will explore the tragic and comic sides of 19th century Italian Opera.

Diamond Lillias Diamond Lillias

Lillias White keeps herself busy.

Honoring RBG Honoring RBG

A tribute to an “obsessive” opera fan.

Talking to Tanja Ariane Baumgartner Talking to Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

The first part of a chat with the dramatic mezzo-soprano.

The long listen The long listen

A conversation with maestro Gil Rose of Odyssey Opera.

“I am finding my way as I go” “I am finding my way as I go”

The musical director of the Opera Royal de Wallonie at Liege is currently experiencing the early phase of a promising international career in music.

The journey is the destination The journey is the destination

In this recital, the Polish bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny and his pianist Lech Napierala present the world premiere recording of Stanislaw Baranczak‘s Podróz Zimowa (Winter’s Journey), which weds the poet’s meticulously crafted poetry to the music of Franz Schubert.

Third bass-baritone Third bass-baritone

Next Marko Mimica discussed which music “reached” him most and how he regards expressing himself in various languages.

Bass-baritone instinct Bass-baritone instinct

Next, I asked Marko Mimica which basses he prefers to listen to on recordings.

All about that bass-baritone All about that bass-baritone

In Bellini’s opera Norma, the “padre” role of Oroveso, it may be safely said, is “undistinguished”—dull and conventional. The bass entrusted with the role usually will engender two reactions: more frequently than not, “Cut this boring music,” and rather more rarely: “What a pity Oroveso doesn’t have more music.”   

Talking to John Raitt, Part One Talking to John Raitt, Part One

How did you first grow interested in singing?

The Raitt stuff The Raitt stuff

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be having lengthy telephone conversations with John Raitt. 

Dearly beloved Dearly beloved

Mezzo Rinat Shaham takes a short break from being the world’s busiest Carmen and rehearsing for the theatrical concert “The Sorrows of Young Werther” to dish with your doyenne.

Return of the king Return of the king

Fifteen years after his first parterre box interview, that criterion of countertenors David Daniels speaks of Oscar Wilde, Marilyn Horne, marriage and political art.

Her maestro’s voice Her maestro’s voice

Our Own Poison Ivy interviews conductor Alain Altinoglu over at her own blog, Poison Ivy’s Wall of Text.

The world on a string: talking to Jamie Barton The world on a string: talking to Jamie Barton

American mezzo Jamie Barton, who has steadily been winning fans in the US over the past few years for her rich and nuanced singing, took the international opera world by storm last weekend by winning both the Song Prize as well as the overall prize in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

The Beatrice generation The Beatrice generation

Beatrice di Tenda was a problem child, Vincenzo Bellini an alternately protective and disparaging parent.

Transparency Transparency

Opera Teen (pictured, second from left) is not kidding us: he had an interview with Peter Gelb.

The man behind the mask The man behind the mask

Recently your doyenne engaged in an email-based interview with David Alden, director of the Met’s new production of Un ballo in maschera, opening on Thursday.

Composer Nico Muhly took a break between operatic world premieres to order a daiquiri and talk to our own JJ about height, haters and flight path. [Capital New York] (Photo: Peter Ross)

I was on the bus to Nürnberg today on the way to do Wagner tourism and hear Herr Sacro Fuoco tomorrow, and on the way I translated the juicy bits of the full print edition Anna Netrebko article… I was going to post it as a comment but it turns out I thought a lot…

Though Margaret Juntwait may have caught him pitifully unprepared, James Levine did say a few words for those lovely people among the Sirius audience last night during the intermission of Ariadne. Those of you who missed this singular event may want to take a peek after the jump.