Les ‘Filles’ mal gardées
Two problematic 1990s Donizetti daughters
Recent Stories
New kid in town
On this day in 2005 mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato made her Met debut as Cherubino
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Tuckered out
This Sunday marked a muted return of the Richard Tucker Foundation Gala, which had the dubious distinction of the fourth edition not to feature a prizewinner and perhaps the first not to provide complete orchestral and choral accompaniment for its performers.
Order of the angels
Born on this day in 1923 soprano Victoria de los Angeles
Soar, losers
Chopping up the action and dutifully showing each plot point may work in a film but in an opera, where every piece of marginal dialogue must be set to music, it feels like a chore.
Das Rheingold
Alain Altinonglu conducts Gábor Bretz, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Anett Frisch, Scott Hendricks, and Nicky Spence live from Brussels.
Rotten Eggs
In this vulgar world, there is no situation that can’t be limned with a power ballad.
Simple gifts
On this day in 1944 the Aaron Copland/Martha Graham ballet Appalachian Spring had its premiere in Washington DC.
Backstage buzz
A word to cher public from backstage at the box
L’ora aspettate
On this day in 1956 La Divina made her Met debut as Norma
L’amore dei tre re
Pinchas Steinberg conducts Evgeny Stavinsky, Roman Burdenko, Giorgio Berrugi, Giorgio Misseri, Andrea Tanzillo, and Chiara Isotton in Italo Montemezzi‘s fairytale opera live from Milan.
Ein Ritter nahte da
On this day in 1961 tenor Sandor Konya made his Met debut as Lohengrin. Ingrid Bjoner debuts as Elsa.
Growers and showers
For Philadelphia opera lovers, October means the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition—a staple event for the Academy of Vocal Arts, and a pipeline for the public to discover some of their strongest resident artists.
Roman candle
On this day in 1958 Met opening night Tosca with Tebaldi, del Monaco and George London. (from two years earlier. . . )
Portrait of a lady on fire
Several opera companies across the globe are marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas with performances of operas identified with her.
Her memory is all that is left for you now
On this day in 1959 mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Azucena
La bohème
Carlo Rizzi conducts Federica Lombardi, Matthew Polenzani, Adam Plachetka, Olga Kulchynska, and Christian Van Horn (again) in a broadcast from New York
Lombarding along
In Handel’s Rodelinda, a usurped monarch, believed dead, returns to avenge his deposition and reclaim the woman he loves.
Mistico raggio di luci e di fior
Born on this day in 1926 soprano Galina Vishnevskaya
You’re better off without me, mein Hair
I hate to say I nearly cringe at the thought of Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.
Memorable silvery luster
Happy 68th birthday soprano Cheryl Studer
Cuck and ball torture
On October 20th, a wet but warmish Friday night, the Metropolitan Opera opened this season’s revival of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera in David Alden’s 2012 production.