The Talk of the Town

Janet Baker should have made it to the Met Janet Baker should have made it to the Met

The divine Dame Janet Baker never sang at the Metropolitan, sadly for American audiences.

Dorothy Maynor should have made it to the Met Dorothy Maynor should have made it to the Met

We had to wait for Marian Anderson to break the color barrier at the Met and many great Black opera singers never had a chance there.

Leyla Gencer should have made it to the Met Leyla Gencer should have made it to the Met

Leyla Gencer had a long European career but never sang at the Met.

Hina Spani should have made it to the Met Hina Spani should have made it to the Met

A full century after her heyday, Argentine soprano Hina Spani still moves us thanks to her vivid recordings and the savants who have cherished and shared them.

Anna Caterina Antonacci should have made it to the Met Anna Caterina Antonacci should have made it to the Met

The one who got away was Anna Caterina Antonacci, a thrilling performer.

Lina Bruna Rasa should have made it to the Met Lina Bruna Rasa should have made it to the Met

In the case of Lina Bruna Rasa, the reasons why she never sang at the Met are painfully clear.

Conchita Supervia should have made it to the Met Conchita Supervia should have made it to the Met

For vibrato fanciers, of course, discovering Supervia is like hitting the mother lode.

Gertrud Grob-Prandl should have made it to the Met Gertrud Grob-Prandl should have made it to the Met

Yes, the Met had Birgit Nilsson – so they let the volcano that was Gertrude Grob-Prandl‘s voice slip through their fingers.

Eglise Gutierrez should have made it to the Met Eglise Gutierrez should have made it to the Met

So much color in this beautifully agile voice.

Mado Robin should have made it to the Met Mado Robin should have made it to the Met

I like to use this recording to annoy Mariah Carey fans by proving that whistle register doesn’t count.

Maria Kanyova should make it to the Met Maria Kanyova should make it to the Met

I’m surprised that American soprano Maria Kanyova has never performed at the Met, even though she has loads of high-profile U.S. opera credits.

Barbara Hannigan should make it to the Met Barbara Hannigan should make it to the Met

The fact that Barbara Hannigan has never performed at The Metropolitan Opera is just plain dumb.

Robert Rounseville should have made it to the Met Robert Rounseville should have made it to the Met

From one Mister Snow to another, I salute him.

Denise Duval should have made it to the Met Denise Duval should have made it to the Met

I decided I’d take ‘never made it to the Met’ as an excuse to submit a post about why French soprano Denise Duval (1921-2015) is special to me.

A favorite Verdi performance from Eli Jacobson A favorite Verdi performance from Eli Jacobson

The immortal Renata Tebaldi, just about 29 years old as Saint Joan in a RAI broadcast of Giovanna d’Arco from 1951.

A favorite Verdi performance from pfeliks A favorite Verdi performance from pfeliks

I was a huge fan of Anna Netrebko.

A favorite Verdi performance from Larry Wolff A favorite Verdi performance from Larry Wolff

The mesmerizing run of Trovatore in October 2015 at the Met, a few months after we learned that Hvorostovsky was dying

A favorite Verdi performance from swordsnsolvers A favorite Verdi performance from swordsnsolvers

Here in Chicago, I’ve had many a shot at listening to Riccardo Muti as a Verdi conductor.

A favorite Verdi performance from Sanford Schimel A favorite Verdi performance from Sanford Schimel

I’ve never been shy about my adoration of Anna Moffo.

A favorite Verdi performance from John Danaher A favorite Verdi performance from John Danaher

My favorite Verdi performance is the iconic 1960 RCA recording of Otello with Jon Vickers in the title role and the Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of the masterly Tullio Serafin.

A favorite Verdi performance from Niel Rishoi A favorite Verdi performance from Niel Rishoi

Tebaldi, at La scala, in one of her nights of glory, where the voice poured out effortlessly, singing with utter conviction, and no soprano ever appealed to God more fervently.

A favorite Verdi performance from Brendan Latimer A favorite Verdi performance from Brendan Latimer

My contribution this month honors the great Sherrill Milnes in his electrifying performance of Iago’s credo (1979, Met).

A favorite Verdi performance from Krunoslav A favorite Verdi performance from Krunoslav

Much as I love the Abbado Deutsche Grammophon studio set, this 1980 San Francisco Opera live Simon Boccanegra under Lamberto Gardelli has an emotional punch.

A favorite Verdi performance from David Phillips A favorite Verdi performance from David Phillips

Bring on the drama, mama!