Hört der Mutter Schwur!
On this day in 1967 the Marc Chagall production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte was unveiled at the Met, featuring the debut of soprano Lucia Popp as the Queen of the Night.
Recent Stories
Don Carlo
A live recording of the four-act version of Verdi’s opera from the fall.
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).
The old work of genius
On this day in 1918 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Bellini’s I puritani featuring soprano Maria Barrientos.
Comedy tonight
On this day in 1972 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment.
Skiff, I loved you
On this day in 2015 the Metropolitan Opera presented the company premiere of Rossini’s La donna del lago.
Purcell takes the stage
On Saturday at Alice Tully Hall, Julliard 415, the school’s top-flight period-instrument ensemble, was joined by students from the Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts and Juilliard Drama for a rare semi-staging of King Arthur.
Let it bleed
On this day in 2013 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Wagner’s Parsifal.
One more verse
Happy 64th birthday soprano Renée Fleming!
Act two
Chris’s Cache sends Renata Scotto a valentine ahead of her 89th birthday next week with rare in-house recordings of eight (!) mid-career performances spanning 1971-1977.
A delicate but defined charm
On this day in 1937 soprano Bidu Sayão made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Manon.
Salome
A live video stream of a new production of Strauss’s opera from the Vienna State Opera.
Special ghost star
Ghost sex is part of the popular zeitgeist.
Emotional vitality
On this day in 1958 soprano Gloria Davy made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida.
Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci
A historic performance from 1970 featuring Leonard Bernstein conducting Grace Bumbry and Franco Corelli in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Fausto Cleva conducting Teresa Stratas and Richard Tucker in Pagliacci.
That ‘Girl’
On this day in 1970 Renata Tebaldi introduced her Minnie to the Metropolitan Opera.
Love for music
Happy 96th birthday soprano Leontyne Price.
Reluctant to leave
On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut as Desdemona and her broadcast debut.
Seamless
Baritone Will Liverman is becoming a real Renaissance man.
No minor talent
On this day in 1982 the Metropolitan Opera revisited its controversial season-opener Norma.
Fully immersive
Now the opera world can have a taste of what an immersive opera looks like, as Opera Parallèle opened their spectacular world premiere of Everest: An Immersive Experience .
“Assuredly not a sensation”
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
Here comes the judgement
Chris’s Cache offers a pride of short early English works: John Blow’s Venus and Adonis (1683); Purcell’s King Arthur (1691) and The Indian Queen (1695); John Eccles’s The Judgement of Paris (1700); William Boyce’s Solomon (1743); and John Stanley’s Arcadia (1762).
Wide-eyed mania
There is a moment about 75% of the way through the Rome Narrative where you can almost literally hear Tannhäuser’s stomach turn.