Questo e Quello
parterre box revives a classic Good Friday tradition.
Any production of Der Rosenkavalier that can transform the usually excruciating first half of the third act into a hilarious romp already has my vote.
Happy 59th birthday soprano Aprile Millo.
But enough about Renée Fleming‘s farewell.
Be wary of operas that are famous for just one aria or just one famous opinion.
“Trove Maundy Thursday” offers a recent un-HIP version of Handel’s Messiah.
Born on this day in 1906 playwright Samuel Beckett.
I was puzzled by my initial exposure to the Medea of Aribert Reimann, a work of 2010.
The Met promises eight months from now a new production of Tosca and insiders are already betting that Kristine Opolais as the titular Roman diva may well be replaced before opening night.
We leave behind the Vienna of the 1740s, the time of breeches, fans and white wigs.
A brilliant production of La Juive like that of Peter Konwitschny generalizes the message that mindless hate does not pay and the mindless mob is always the enemy of civilization.
Happy 84th birthday soprano Montserrat Caballé.
Our selected Rosenkavalier video overview closes out the 20th-century selections, crosses the millennial mark, and includes the first of our performances to depart from the opera’s prescribed 18th-century setting.
All right, so Renée Fleming says she’s not retiring from opera at the moment, and who should know better than she herself?
Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem with Anna Netrebko, Ian Bostrdge, and Thomas Hampson in an incredibly moving performance from the 2013 Salzburger Festspiele.
Lyric Opera of Chicago presented a highly anticipated joint recital featuring tenor Lawrence Brownlee, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and accompanist Craig Terry.
On this day in 1967 the musical Illya Darling starring Melina Mercouri opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
“Time is a strange thing,” the lady observes, to a young man who cannot begin to understand what she is talking about.
Mr. Fabiano proceeded to pour gasoline over the audience and toss a lit match into the crowd with his rendition of “Granada.”
Born on this day in 1903 playwright, politician, diplomat, and advisor to Presidents Clare Boothe Luce.
On this day in 1928, the melodrama Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theater, to run 176 performances.
This afternoon at the civilized hour of 1:00 PM, the Met will broadcast a performance of Tristan und Isolde recorded in the fall.
La Cieca and everyone else at parterre.com (not pictured) salute the advertisers who help bring opera news, gossip and reviews to you every day.
The Royal Opera’s Sir Antonio Pappano considers the question of booing at the opera.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
