review / recording

Katya, later Katya, later

Leos Janácek’s rise to international prominence as a Titan of music was dovetailed by a cluster of profoundly original operas that were written during his extraordinary autumnal years.

on February 26, 2024 at 9:00 AM
A three-hour tour A three-hour tour

We may all be armchair Handelians, but some of us are more used to it than others.

on February 13, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Guardian of the temple Guardian of the temple

And what a sonically fascinating and vibrant Atys it is!

on February 02, 2024 at 9:00 AM
A woman scorned A woman scorned

Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Thomas Corneille’s Médée is a monument of the 17th century French baroque lyric tragedy.

on January 09, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Contents fragile Contents fragile

Perhaps the greatest souvenir of her art there is.

on December 05, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Tosca, two ways Tosca, two ways

When our friends at Naxos and C Major announced near-dueling releases of Puccini’s “shabby little shocker,” I was ready with my critic’s pen dipped in bile.

on September 11, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan

This review attempts to capture my ecstatic reactions to Contra-Tenor, one of the greatest recordings I’ve ever heard.

on April 25, 2023 at 7:46 AM
I shall be released I shall be released

Welcome, beloveds, to the Jessye Norman Memorial Museum. I’ll be the docent for your tour today.

on April 04, 2023 at 10:37 AM
Hear the trumpets sound! Hear the trumpets sound!

Frankly I thought Sondra Radvanovsky had reached her pinnacle with her Norma but I was apparently mistaken. I’m happy to say her Turandot is completely next-level.

on March 11, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Guys who sing high (and others) Guys who sing high (and others)

A stack of noteworthy recent baroque vocal CDs on my desk has been staring at me for weeks, so I’m tackling them on Handel’s birthday before the Met roars back into action beginning this weekend.

on February 23, 2023 at 9:08 AM
The color of Monet The color of Monet

When I saw that Richard Bonynge AC CBE, conductor and musicologist supreme, had authored a book titled Chalet Monet about the home he shared with his wife, La Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, in Les Avants, Switzerland I practically had to wipe my chin.

on January 30, 2023 at 11:08 AM
Two characters in search of anagnorisis Two characters in search of anagnorisis

Philadelphia’s memorably if quirkily named Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium deserves to be better known.

on September 11, 2022 at 11:07 AM
A real vibrancy A real vibrancy

Your favorite box set-aholic here completely missed the release last August of Giuseppe Di Stefano – Complete Decca Recordings in honor of the great tenor’s centenary.

on June 20, 2022 at 3:14 PM
Rachel, Rachel Rachel, Rachel

It’s nice to see Sony Classical backing a serious operatic soprano and not some crossover refugee from Britain’s Got Talent or another syrupy Christmas album from the world’s reigning Heldentenor.

on May 18, 2022 at 8:00 AM