His infinite variety
Bass-baritone Le Bu’s recital with Vocal Arts DC highlighted his linguistic and timbral versatility.
Recent Stories
Broadcast
Les pêcheurs de perles / Wiener Staatsoper
Daniele Rustioni conducts Kristina Mkhitaryan, Juan Diego Florez, and Ludovic Tézier in a performance recorded earlier this month in Vienna
Streamed May 30, 2026 at 1:30 PM
2 comments
Broadcast
El último sueño de Frida y Diego / Metropolitan Opera
The final Saturday Matinée Broadcast of the season, a live performance of Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz's opera
Streamed May 30, 2026 at 1:00 PM
17 comments
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).
She speaks!
It has become that time of evening… to opine during the latest round of The Talk of the Town.
Broadcast
Turandot / Metropolitan Opera
Liyudmila Monastyrska and Roberto Alagna lead the final weeknight broadcast from New York
Streamed May 29, 2026 at 7:25 PM
125 comments
Were you silent or were you silenced
A new production of Die schweigsame Frau at the Berlin Staatsoper has precious little to say.
A springtime baroque bouquet
Christopher Corwin picks the flowers of a baroque May in New York City with reviews of concerts starring Lauren Snouffer, Key’mon Murrah, and the Oratorio Society of New York.
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
Broadcast
Eugene Onegin / Wiener Staatsoper
Asmik Grigorian and Boris Pinaskovich star in a live video stream of Dmitri Tcherniakov's production from Vienna
Streamed May 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM
16 comments
Count your blessings
Fast-rising Verdi baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbataar is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
A favorite Verdi performance from swordsnsolvers
Here in Chicago, I’ve had many a shot at listening to Riccardo Muti as a Verdi conductor.
By swordsnsolvers
59 comments
On the party platform
Don’t expect any sweeping statements from Franz Welser-Möst ‘s polished, if dramatically inert, Fidelio.
In my end is my beginning
Die Walküre heralds the end of an era for the Los Angeles Philharmonic — and the arrival of a new generation of Wagnerians.
A favorite Verdi performance from Sanford Schimel
I’ve never been shy about my adoration of Anna Moffo.
By Sanford Schimel
71 comments
Gorgon wild
Iain Bell and Lydia Steier‘s Medusa stuns in Brussels.
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.
Broadcast
La Damnation de Faust / Prague Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Tomáš Netopil and tenor Paul Appleby lead a live broadcast of Berlioz's opera from Prague.
Streamed May 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM
6 comments
Garden leave
Brigitte Fassbaender’s acid-laced production of La finta giardiniera leans into the absurdities of Mozart’s early dramma giocoso.
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
My contribution this month honors the great Sherrill Milnes in his electrifying performance of Iago’s credo (1979, Met).
Broadcast
Carmen / Teatro la Fenice
Annalisa Stroppa leads a live performance from the Teatro La Fenice
Streamed May 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM
3 comments
I could escape this feeling with my China girl
Tired of Turandot? “The Dancing Goddess” at the China Institute Gallery gives us a glimpse at a real Peking Opera queen.