Another Hun bites the dust
Verdi’s Attila is hardly a rarity in Italy the way it is in the United States.
Questo e Quello
The unusual suspects
Mad Scenes and Exit Arias: The Death of the New York City Opera and the Future of Opera in America provides ample fodder for the legions of amateur opera sleuths seeking to confirm their theory of “Who Killed City Opera?”
Meine Liebe ist croon
As opera’s reigning tenor-superstar, Jonas Kaufmann can pretty much do whatever he wants and a sizable adoring public will lap it up.
Final chorus
The news of Nicholas McGegan’s retirement came as quite a shock to me.
Every little thing she does is Zajick
Thirty years ago today Dolora Zajick made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena.
The gift of temperament
On this day in 1965 mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Eboli.
parterre saturday afternoon: Montserrat Caballé
Today’s sad news has prompted a change of program in parterre saturday afternoon. Our Own JJ is putting together a program in tribute to Montserrat Caballé, to begin at our regular time of 2:00 PM.
“The Moravian Thunderbolt”
Born on this day in 1887 soprano Maria Jeritza.
Montserrat Caballé 1933-2018
The prodigiously gifted and widely beloved Catalan soprano has died. She was 85.
American beauty
It’s surprising to read that, as of this writing, La fanciulla del west has only had 105 performances at the Metropolitan Opera.
Burning woman
I count myself as privileged to have witnessed Götterdämmerungat the Royal Opera House during this season’s revival of Keith Warner’s Ring.
Underdressed
For this revisiting of Tosca, San Francisco Opera decided to highlight the glamorous lifestyle of the Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio.
A glamorous life
Happy 95th birthday actress Glynis Johns.
Rodelinda warrior
Ardent, astonishing, animated Anthony Roth Costanzo has just unveiled the music video for “Vivi, tiranno.”
Escape from ‘New York’
What it boils down to is the author flaunting his anti-racist bona fides by mocking Anna Netrebko based on her national origin.
Hop on pops
Carnegie Hall’s season opener last night fetched the usual glitterati.
Felonthropist sprung
According to Francophobe Norman Lebrecht, the ex-con plans to attend an opera about cannibalism.
Revolutionary and romantic
“Trove Thursday” offers a triple bill by that extraordinary composer Hector Berlioz.
Do I hear a Waltz?
Happy 62nd birthday actor and director Christoph Waltz.
Già dell’Apocalisse appariscono i segni
Ryan Speedo Green will sing Colline in tonight’s performance of Puccini’s La Bohème.
Golden ‘Girls’ season finale
The conclusion of our Fanciulla del West video overview in three parts looks at a trio of performances from the 2010s.
Not the Marion kind
On this day in 1968 soprano Marion Lippert made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Turandot.
Diamonds, Daisies, Snowflakes, Rowley!
She’s everything that every girl should be!
Come to me my melancholy diva
“What emerges from this handsome but sentimental film is a portrait of the artist in decline, cocooning herself in defensive victimhood.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).