Questo e Quello
Casting the Ring as a parable for the state of the current world, seen through the eyes of a progressive urban opera lover (and not an early German nationalist), offers us soothing self-justification.
On this day in 1855 Verdi’s Les Vêpres siciliennes premiered in Paris.
Composer/librettist David Hertzberg’s The Rose Elf, which gave its world premiere in the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs last weekend, is indeed a marvel of elfin proportions.
Born on this day in 1919 actress and theatre practitioner Uta Hagen.
Warmth, humor, and joyful out-and-proud-ness dominate the mood, yet there is considerable darkness in Taylor Mac’s view of both past and present.
Born on this day in 1864 composer Richard Strauss and in 1913 mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens.
La Cieca is delighted to remind her cher public that the parterre YouTube page (called operazine) has been newly refurbished and updated.
Born on this day in 1922 Miss Show Business.
Today on parterre saturday afternoon: a live recording of Strauss’s Salome featuring the very starry quartet of Gwyneth Jones, Hans Hopf, Bernd Weikl and Martha Mödl!
Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.
Many lessons surface in Tony Kushner’s epic Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.
Born on this day in 1810 composer Robert Schumann.
So I just got out of the Lohengrin prima at the ROH and I’m itching to share my thoughts.
I mean, who did not see this coming?
“Trove Thursday” turns for the third of Verdi’s four Schiller adaptations to a recent I Masnadieri with risen stars Lisette Oropesa and Russell Thomas.
Happy 55th birthday tenor Roberto Alagna.
A letter to the New York Times from the the company’s doughty press director Tim McKeough addresses the recent spate of running around with hair on fire about James Levine‘s artistic legacy.
Happy 79th birthday tenor Giacomo Aragall.
The third segment of New York City Opera’s gradually emerging 2018-2019 season will be Mascagni’s Isabeau.
New York City Opera today offered a demi-announcement of half their next season.
It seems Anna Netrebko has achieved a state that can only be described as “Peak Elizabeth Taylor.”
You may not be a born Regina in The Little Foxes if you’re the sort of person who exclaims “Good gravy!”
On this day in 1971, James Levine made his Metropolitan Opera debut.
Disgraced former Met music director James Levinewas sighted at yesterday’s matinee performance of New York City Opera’s Brokeback Mountain.
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.
