“Poetry is never dangerous” “Poetry is never dangerous”

Born on this day in 1920 screenwriter and director Federico Fellini.

Lucia di Lammermoor Lucia di Lammermoor

Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala, Mariusz Kwiecien, and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From February 7, 2009.

Titon et l’Aurore Titon et l’Aurore

Jean-Joseph de Mondonville‘s 1753 pastorale héroïque, performed live at the Opéra Comique.

Hitchcock blonde Hitchcock blonde

Born on this day in 1930 actress and activist ‘Tippi’ Hedren.

Carmen Carmen

Starring Anita Hartig, Anita Rachvelishvili, Aleksandrs Antonenko, and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado. From November 1, 2014.

Everybody is nothing until you love them Everybody is nothing until you love them

Truly, I think it would be almost impossible to overpraise Anna Magnani in a performance that’s absolutely riveting from start to finish

Miss me blonde Miss me blonde

Happy 75th birthday soprano Katia Ricciarelli.

Rusalka Rusalka

Renée Fleming, Emily Magee, Dolora Zajick, Piotr Beczala and John Relyea, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. From February 8, 2014.

Learning to fly Learning to fly

Conceived by Adam Guettel as a song cycle that explores human relationships to the gods across the span of history into today, Myths and Hymns has been seen and heard in concert and staged settings, and some of the individual songs are often performed in cabaret.

Lulu Lulu

Ingo Metzmacher conducts Agneta Eichenholz, Bo Skovhus, Charles Workman, Angela Denoke and Franz Grundheber.

It’s a good day It’s a good day

Happy 99th birthday to television legend and animal health advocate Betty White.

Rodelinda Rodelinda

Starring Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, Andreas Scholl, Iestyn Davies, Joseph Kaiser, and Shenyang, conducted by Harry Bicket. From December 3, 2011.

All about my moth All about my moth

The performance of an opera, indeed, seems almost a third narrative, atop the dreamer under the scientific microscope and the larva turning into a butterfly, and the mingling is not always clear—but then, clarity never seems to be the intention.

La Traviata La Traviata

Performance from January 18, 2020: Karel Mark Chichon; Aleksandra Kurzak (Violetta Valéry), Dmytro Popov (Alfredo Germont), Quinn Kelsey (Giorgio Germont).

Kiss from a Rossini Kiss from a Rossini

Happy 87th birthday mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne.

Capriccio Capriccio

Starring Renée Fleming, Sarah Connolly, Joseph Kaiser, Russell Braun, Morten Frank Larsen, and Peter Rose, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. From April 23, 2011.

Linda di Chamounix Linda di Chamounix

From the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Michele Gamba conducts Cesare Lievi‘s production with Jessica Pratt, Francesco Demuro and Michele Pertusi.

Écrevisses à la bordelaise Écrevisses à la bordelaise

On this day in 1958 Samuel Barber‘s Vanessa had its world premiere at the Met.

Armida Armida

Starring Renée Fleming, Lawrence Brownlee, Barry Banks, John Osborn and Kobie van Rensburg, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. From May 1, 2010.

The ties that bind The ties that bind

Like everyone reading this, I imagine, I’ve missed going to see and hear something in person more than I thought possible.

The Lady Eve The Lady Eve

For nearly 70 years, New York City was the world capital of concert opera thanks first to the American Opera Society, then to Eve Queler’s Opera Orchestra of New York.

Mai Tosca alla scena più tragica fu! Mai Tosca alla scena più tragica fu!

On this day in 1900 Puccini’s Tosca premiered in Rome.

Der Rosenkavalier Der Rosenkavalier

Starring Renée Fleming, Christine Schäfer, Susan Graham, Eric Cutler, Thomas Allen, and Kristinn Sigmundsson, conducted by Edo de Waart. From January 9, 2010.

Call of the wild Call of the wild

Call Out is an ample demonstration of Zachary James’ many talents—and an inspiring example of the artistic light that can be generated even when our theaters are temporarily dark.