Questo e Quello
On this day in 1964 the American premiere of Menotti’s The Last Savage took place at the Metropolitan Opera.
San Francisco Opera continues its competition with Lyric Opera of Chicago for the title of “World’s Dullest Opera Company.”
Born on this day in 1897 soprano Rosa Ponselle.
Please be advised: article contains no brickbats.
Claudio Abbado passed away on the 20th of January five years ago, just months before I began my Ph.D.
Happy 78th (or so) birthday tenor/baritone/conductor Plácido Domingo.
Born on this day in 1865 cabaret singer and actress of the Belle Époque Yvette Guilbert.
Join le tout Allemonde for this afternoon’s broadcast of Debussy’s apotheosis of evanescence.
The Met is offering federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown free tickets.
On this day in 1984 bass Samuel Ramey made his Metroplitan Opera debut in Handel’s Rinaldo.
Although she didn’t sing that eponymous song by Reynaldo Hahn at Weill Recital Hall Thursday evening, Sabine Devieilhe did offer an “exquisite hour” of early 20th century French songs.
On this day in 1907 the Metropolian Opera premiered Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with the composer in attendance.
If I had to live with just one Tchaikovsky opera, it would be Iolanta.
On this day in 1960 tenor Jon Vickers made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio.
When a work is named for its lovers one might legitimately expect that pair to dominate its performance but in my experience that is never the case with Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.
Now, you would think nothing could please gaycentric La Cieca more than yesterday’s New York Times profile of the Met’s new music director…
Happy 85th birthday mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.
“Remember where you are. This is Adriana Lecouvreur. Death is listening, and will take the first diva that screams.”
La Cieca invites the cher public to visit Allemonde tonight at 7:30.
On this day in 1958 Samuel Barber‘s Vanessa had its world premiere at the Met.
Last week, our indefatigable podcaster Christopher Corwin (not pictured) achieved the milestone of the 200th episode of Trove Thursday.
No other singer of Die Amme approaches the towering standard set by the German mezzo Tanja Ariane Baumgartner.
On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome.
Happy 83rd birthday baritone Renato Bruson.
Tell us: What was the best of 2025?
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.
