Questo e Quello
Astounding Anita Rachvelishvili gets mixed up with Saxe and violets
On this day in 1912 Pietro Mascagni’s Lodoletta had its United States premiere at the Metropolitan.
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.
Which superstar performer, despite recent success in this hemisphere, has thus far hesitated to sign a contract for more performances next season?
“Couple of hours ago at home, I was preparing for the show, when suddenly I collapsed.”
On this day in 1934 soprano Lotte Lehmann made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Sieglinde.
It’s the final Otello broadcast of the Met season.
Roberto Alagna’s physical and vocal embodiment of Don José lent his particular narrative a complication I hadn’t anticipated.
“Trove Thursday” offers a recent broadcast of one of his best-known but rarely performed operas, Il Mitridate Eupatore.
Cellist Leah Coloff’s one-woman cabaret act ThisTree finds its place among a lineup of Prototype Festival miniatures this week that seem to plumb the depths of womanly distress.
Happy 84th birthday baritone Sherrill Milnes.
“Jorge de León will sing Radamès in the February 28, March 4, and March 7 performances of Verdi’s Aida, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko.
“I am an artist first, but also Catholic and homosexual.”
Born on this day in 1902 impresario and opera manager Rudolf Bing.
At tonight’s performance of Aida at the Met, the Triumphal Scene horses suddenly panicked and tried to bolt from the stage. I can’t say I blame them.
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Evelyn Lear.
While 4.48 Psychosis is an intricately-crafted, deeply moving portrait of human agony, Pancho Villa from a Safe Distance lacks the creative clout to realize its artistic ambitions.
Though barely a week old, 2019 has already provided New Yorkers with an essential, breathtaking music drama focusing on two women struggling for their very survival.
On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.
Live from the Bayerische Staatsoper: The Bartered Bride.
Born on this day in 1412 heroine of France, martyr and saint Jeanne d’Arc.
This rainy afternoon’s Met broadcast: Otello.
On this day in 1977 soprano Edita Gruberova made her Met debut as the Queen of the Night.
Happy 82nd birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.
At the New York Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve gala? Really?
