Get in the zone Get in the zone

Tamara Wilson and Stanislas de Barbeyrac are the standouts in Calixto Bieito’s underwhelming Die Walküre in Paris

Renata Tebaldi sings “O Divine Redeemer” Renata Tebaldi sings “O Divine Redeemer”

“O Divine Redeemer” is, I suppose, more properly an Advent or Lenten piece. But when Renata Tebaldi asks us to hear her “croy”, who can resist?

Shades of gray Shades of gray

MasterVoices presents a strongly-cast Sweet Smell of Success—but the merits of this noir musical are hardly black or white. 

So brutal but also so joyful So brutal but also so joyful

Composer Philip Venables talks about queer utopias and bending gender and genre in The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions which opens at the Park Avenue Armory this week.

Anna Moffo sings “O Holy Night” Anna Moffo sings “O Holy Night”

Anna Moffo, in glorious voice and looking gorgeous as usual, sings “O Holy Night,” one of my favorite Christmas tunes.

Zampa, ou La fiancée de marbre

Zampa, ou La fiancée de marbre / Münchner Rundfunkorchester

A live performance from Munich’s Prinzregentheater of Ferdinand Hérold‘s opéra-comique

Streamed November 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I’m still thinking about George Tabori’s <em>Pagliacci</em> I’m still thinking about George Tabori’s <em>Pagliacci</em>

I love Tabori—his staging of Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung are among my five favorite opera performances of all time.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve / Bayerische Staatsoper

Rimsky-Korsakov‘s opera in a live broadcast from the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich

Streamed November 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The Makropulos Case

The Makropulos Case / Royal Ballet and Opera

Jakub Hrůša conducts Ausrine Stundyte in a performance recorded in London earlier this month

Streamed November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Big time sensuality Big time sensuality

Barbara Strozzi links two sensuous programs by L’Arpeggiata and Catapult Opera. 

To be a poet is a condition To be a poet is a condition

Are today’s stars enough to sustain Andrea Chénier?

Out of the mouths of babes Out of the mouths of babes

Parterre Box concludes the thrilling first year of Talk of the Town by inviting your lightning rod opinions on several more categories of operatic argumentation.

I’m still thinking about Laurent Pelly’s <em>Il turco in Italia</em> I’m still thinking about Laurent Pelly’s <em>Il turco in Italia</em>

Ha ha ha, so gorgeous!

Fedora

Fedora / Deutsche Oper Berlin

Vida Miknevičiūtė and Jonathan Tetelman star in a live broadcast from the Deutsche Oper Berlin

Streamed November 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Lohengrin

Lohengrin / Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

Michele Mariotti conducts Dmitry Korchak, Jennifer Holloway, mas Tómasson, and Ekaterina Gubanova in a live, season-opening broadcast from Rome

Streamed November 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Monkey business Monkey business

The Monkey King at San Francisco Opera combines spectacle and sentiment.

Oceanic feeling Oceanic feeling

Grand Tier Grab Bag features a complete performance of Ernest Chausson‘s Poème de l’amour et de la mer ahead of a particular year for both its soloist and conductor.

I’m still thinking about Martin Kusej’s <em>Rusalka</em> I’m still thinking about Martin Kusej’s <em>Rusalka</em>

The production is based on the Elisabeth Fritzl story, and it really made me reconsider this opera’s fairy tale storyline.

Everything the light touches Everything the light touches

Vincent Lombardo pays poetic tribute to the 60-year-long career of Robert Wilson.

Hear, O Israel Hear, O Israel

As Messiah season begins, Christopher Corwin reports on two of Handel’s forays into the Old Testament.

Andrea Chénier

Andrea Chénier / Metropolitan Opera

Umberto Giordano‘s verismo opera in a live broadcast from New York

Streamed November 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I’m getting married in the morning I’m getting married in the morning

Washington National Opera presented a well-sung and humorous Marriage of Figaro, buoyed by clever direction and a strong cast, particularly Rosa Feola’s Countess and Joélle Harvey’s Susanna.

Medieval Times Medieval Times

Carl Orff’s cantata tries its fortunes at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

I’m still thinking about Peter Sellars’s <em>Così fan tutte</em> I’m still thinking about Peter Sellars’s <em>Così fan tutte</em>

I never thought an opera production could be this well done.