Questo e Quello
A very particular tension—between angry political resistance and gloriously sex-positive, buoyantly confidant celebration of queerness—fuels the immense energy of Taylor Mac’s A 24-Hour Decade History of Popular Music.
WQXR has hired BBC radio and TV presenter, author, novelist, journalist and violinist Clemency Burton-Hill to be the station’s Creative Director, Music and Arts.
New Amsterdam Opera’s concert version of Donizetti’s elaborate score La favorita, offered energy, panache and several top-notch young soloists.
Happy 52nd birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.
Happy 53rd birthday baritone Peter Mattei!
Leyla Gencer and Shirley Verrett star in Maria Stuarda, this week’s offering in the returning series “saturday afternoon parterre” hosted by Our Own JJ.
Happy 69th birthday tenor Neil Shicoff.
Between staging, music, and material, it’s hard to decide what feels most broken about New York City Opera’s American premiere of Brokeback Mountain.
Here they are, cher public, your most popular 10 (or, rather, 11) parterre posts for the month of May 2018.
The gayest tweet of all time ushers in mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade‘s 73rd birthday.
The Metropolitan Opera announced that Diane Zola has been appointed the company’s new Assistant General Manager, Artistic, replacing the late Robert Rattray.
Next Marko Mimica discussed which music “reached” him most and how he regards expressing himself in various languages.
The Barber of Seville turned out to be the most overall solid production of the year and even a bit of old-fashioned fun.
On this day in 1817 Rossini’s La gazza ladra premiered in Milan.
Next, I asked Marko Mimica which basses he prefers to listen to on recordings.
Born on this day in 1931 mezzo-soprano/soprano Shirley Verrett.
In Bellini’s opera Norma, the “padre” role of Oroveso, it may be safely said, is “undistinguished”—dull and conventional. The bass entrusted with the role usually will engender two reactions: more frequently than not, “Cut this boring music,” and rather more rarely: “What a pity Oroveso doesn’t have more music.”
Born on this day in 1894 actress, singer and comedic performer Bea Lillie.
Born on this day in 1923 composer György Ligeti.
“Magdalena Kozená sings Cole Porter”
Born on this day in 1911 actor, raconteur and bon vivant Vincent Price.
Not one but two fascinating live video streams this afternoon, cher public!
Centenary diva Birgit Nilsson is only one of a multitude of artists whose live recording are discounted by 50% at Opera Depot this weekend.
Happy 80th birthday soprano Teresa Stratas.
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.
