“I am fed to teeth with elevated themes! Old dead legends!
Why must we go on forever writing about gods and legends?”

I’ll tell you why: because internet commenters exist. And none will be more trussed, stuffed, and typing with their mouths full in the coming days than the commenters at parterre box. For this and other operatic bounty—in all its vexing forms—we give thanks.

This week our archival instincts are serving them two major dishes:

Maria

Our own Christopher Corwin was among the first to see Pablo Larraín’s latest film Maria. (Or is it Angelina Jolie’s Maria?) Callas widows, get your fix before the Netflix premiere. Um… I guess no spoiler alerts needed. You know how this ends.

New York’s hottest voice wrecker Haus of Shmizzay and the old-school manual stimulation of duo Bel Canto Boot Camp

Judith Malafronte on two visible members of a movement exploring historical treatises and recordings and using them to give singers permission to reclaim their artistry (and point out what many voice teachers are getting wrong).

Hello to Berlin Montagu James reviews the US tour of the Kirill Petrenko-led Berlin Philharmonic
It takes a woman The plight of two women, each from different backgrounds, was on full display in San Francisco opera houses last week.	Photo Cory Weaver
Sisters are doing it for themselves War! Heroism! Mysterious strangers! Attempted suicide! Steadfast love! Così fan tutte, as staged November 18-21 at Juilliard Opera, had… none of these things.	Photo © 2024 Richard Termine

“L’arte è al di sopra e al di fuori degli odi…”
– EMMA CARELLI

“Art is above and beyond hatred…”

Well because I’m not too proud to beg, I’m going to beg to differ.

After all we don’t just cover opera’s exaltations here at parterre box. We cover opera’s biggest failures and flops. We cover opera’s biggest fans. In turn, they—maybe even some of you—are free to cover other areas… or at least used to be, from what I’ve read.

One such friend of the box has a distinctly Neapolitan taste.

In venues, dear reader.

They’ve kindly furnished a sample of Anita Rachvelishvili‘s first staged opera performance in over a year. Rachvelishvili, who has been rebounding from a vocal crisis, made her role debut as Jezibaba last Wednesday night at Teatro di San Carlo.

Click to listen:

Speaking of, do you subscribe to our sibillant podcast, Chris’s Cache? Well why not? It features operatic gems, secret live recordings, and honestly a little filth… from the collection of Christopher Corwin.

Don’t miss and episode. Subscribe on:

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

iHeartRadio

*** #PB4PB ***

Folx are tickled pink about our Piotr Beczala ticket giveaway!

Well, some folx. Writes one parterre*inbox subscriber:

First off, who said you’d be sitting? And we can’t guarantee that there won’t be male strippers. You think Regietheater’s just for the opera house? You know how these people are nowadays. They know no bounds.

In any case, Carnegie Hall is kindly adding a second pair of tickets to the giveaway! So get your friend to enter. Hell, use the email account you hide from your wife to enter twice.

Whatever it takes. Leave no Pole unclumb!

Do you have questions, tips, suggestions, gripes, or story ideas?
Email us if you must: [email protected]

Ciao for now!
Nick Scholl
Publisher, parterre box