Questo e Quello

Next to Norma Next to Norma

Anita Cerquetti had one of the most remarkable, most brief careers in opera in the past century.

“Music isn’t only a profession” “Music isn’t only a profession”

Happy 70th birthday tenor José Carreras.

Chat: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Chat: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

From the Bayerische Staatsoper, a live telecast of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, starting at 1:00 PM today. 

If you please If you please

Everyone’s favorite disingenuous alt-right music critic, Jay Nordlinger, explains that the real problem in opera today is not enough blackface.

Mad about music Mad about music

Born on this day in 1921 Deanna Durbin.

When divas collide, part infinity

La Royale hostessed a Fridays Under 40 reception before the opera, then graced a parterre box during the performance.

Principessa altera Principessa altera

Anna Netrebko will sing Turandot at the Met in a “forthcoming season.”

Chat: Manon Lescaut Saturday matinee Chat: Manon Lescaut Saturday matinee

Get ready, cher public, for the first Met Saturday matinee broadcast.

Divine, madness Divine, madness

This is our anniversary day, cher public.

You must investigate Baghdad You must investigate Baghdad

On this day in 1953 the Wright-Forrest-Borodin musical Kismet opened on Broadway.

Chanson d’amour Chanson d’amour

Much like Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, which launched the Met’s 2016-2017 season, Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de Loin is an opera about love and death.

Tag sale Tag sale

It is a good rule of thumb that if you emerge from a massive grand opera like Aida feeling any less than overwhelmed, you have a right to be somewhat disappointed.

Jetez un voile noir sur la triste fiancée Jetez un voile noir sur la triste fiancée

On this day in 1840 Donizetti’s La Favorite premiered in Paris.

Chat: L’Amour de Loin Chat: L’Amour de Loin

Whether near or far, cher public, you can enjoy the Met premiere of L’Amour de Loin in the company of other denizens of La Casa della Cieca.

Harmony of contrasts Harmony of contrasts

Joyce DiDonato’s atest album, In War & Peace: Harmony through music, is more specific than it sounds.

Divine gladness Divine gladness

La Cieca thought it would be nice to revisit an Unnatural Acts of Opera podcast which included selections from the diva’s 1958 US recital tour.

Impressed seaman Impressed seaman

On this day in 1951 Benjamin Britten‘s Billy Budd premiered in London.

Fürchterliches Weib Fürchterliches Weib

Happy 73rd birthday soprano Luana DeVol.

Chestnut, roasting on an opera fire Chestnut, roasting on an opera fire

Anna has gone auburn!

Powder her brain Powder her brain

So interesting an operatic topic as Barbara Cartland and her brain pills goes unset.

Test pattern Test pattern

On this day in 1948 Verdi’s Otello was the first opera to be telecast from the Metropolitan Opera.

Solid gold Solid gold

This week’s opera is Die Liebe der Danae.

The thought behind it The thought behind it

Born on this day in 1923 actress Gloria Grahame.

All about my mother All about my mother

Operatic history can be cruel where multiple works with the same subject are concerned