Rock ‘n’ Tyrol Rock ‘n’ Tyrol

Parterre Box features an exclusive sample of Lawrence Brownlee‘s jump-in performance in La sonnambula from this weekend

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>War and Peace</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>War and Peace</em>

‘Comfort opera.’ Hmm… I had to give this one some thought.

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>L’incoronazione di Poppea</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>L’incoronazione di Poppea</em>

I have listened to this clip on the way to every first date I’ve ever been on.

The Bartered Bride

The Bartered Bride / Wiener Staatsoper

A live broadcast from the Wiener Staatsoper (in German)

Streamed October 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The Queen of Spades

The Queen of Spades / Garsington Opera

Laura Wilde and Aaron Cawley lead a performance recorded at Garsington this summer

Streamed October 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Seen and heard Seen and heard

Mere days remain to contribute to The Talk of the Town for the rest of the year!

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>The Cunning Little Vixen</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>The Cunning Little Vixen</em>

The opera is life affirming, but also recognizes that life comes to an end.

Mommy and me Mommy and me

Today’s Grand Tier Grab Bag features Chiara Isotton and Joyce El-Khoury as two murderous mommies in the final scene of Cherubini‘s Medea (and Medée)

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Elektra</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Elektra</em>

My comfort opera is Elektra. Yes, you read correctly, Elektra.

Turandot

Turandot / Metropolitan Opera

A live broadcast from New York

Streamed October 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Nothing makes me feel better than the 1961 performance of <em>Turandot</em> Nothing makes me feel better than the 1961 performance of <em>Turandot</em>

The old Nilsson/Corelli radio checks from the 1960s are a reminder that what this opera needs are VOICES.

Ain’t no mountain high enough Ain’t no mountain high enough

A new production of La sonnambula at the Metropolitan Opera is musically charming if dramatically confounding.

Seeing double Seeing double

Jonas Kaufmann has a new lieder album called Doppelgänger, but the contents of the album vary depending on how you purchase it.

Nothing makes me feel better than Roberta Peters in <em>Die Zauberflöte</em> Nothing makes me feel better than Roberta Peters in <em>Die Zauberflöte</em>

Other queens have been richer of voice or more dramatically compelling, but none I have ever heard succeeds in sounding something other than human.

La bohème

La bohème / Dallas Opera

Bekhzod Davronov, Sylvia D’Eramo, Takaoki Onishi, and Emily Pogorelc lead a performance recorded last spring in Dallas

Streamed October 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
La sonnambula

La sonnambula / Metropolitan Opera

A live opening night broadcast from New York starring Nadine Sierra and Xabier Anduaga

Streamed October 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Only vaulting ambition Only vaulting ambition

Macbeth at the Festival Verdi in Parma aims big — on a small scale

Nothing makes me feel better than Conchita Supervia Nothing makes me feel better than Conchita Supervia

Conchita Supervia (1895-1936), Spanish mezzo, never fails to lift my spirits, in practically everything she sang.

The Bartered Bride

The Bartered Bride / Wiener Staatsoper

A live broadcast of Smetana’s opera featuring Pavol Breslik and Slávka Zámečníková

Streamed October 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Semele

Semele / Royal Ballet and Opera

Ben Bliss and Pretty Yende lead a performance recorded last spring in London

Streamed October 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The 500 Fingers of Dr. H The 500 Fingers of Dr. H

Surely you agree that piano concerti are inherently political.

Moor is more Moor is more

A pair of Otellos – in Madrid and Parma – is a study in contrasts.

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Tosca</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Tosca</em>

Suck it, Joseph Kerman: Puccini’s “Shabby Little Shocker” has outlived you and will probably bury us all.