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The most-performed production in Met history, as seen in its debut season, starring Teresa Stratas, José Carreras, Renata Scotto and James Morris.
Broadcast of a 2014 production by Des Moines Metro Opera.
Born on this day in 1868 soprano Florence Foster Jenkins.
Starring Amanda Majeski, Marlis Petersen, Isabel Leonard, Peter Mattei and Ildar Abdrazakov, conducted by James Levine. From October 18, 2014.
The production style exposed Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus for what it’s always been: a piece of lowbrow camp masquerading as highbrow art.
“Superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann sings 12 of the most popular, show-stopping arias in the operatic repertoire, live from the ornate Polling Abbey located in the rolling Bavarian countryside outside Munich, Germany.”
We can delight in films that make use of motif to give opera-lovers an extra little jiggle.
Born on this day in 1821 mezzo-soprano and composer Pauline Viardot-Garcia.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Rizzin’ to the occasion
Parterre Box features the Met’s current Eugene Onegin, Iurii Samoilov, in a performance of Rossini ahead of a return to Pesaro this summer.
Parterre Box features the Met’s current Eugene Onegin, Iurii Samoilov, in a performance of Rossini ahead of a return to Pesaro this summer.
When they go low
Nostalgic for bass month, Parterre Box offers excerpts from two young basses to watch: Giorgi Manoshvili and Patrick Guetti.
Nostalgic for bass month, Parterre Box offers excerpts from two young basses to watch: Giorgi Manoshvili and Patrick Guetti.
Nailin’ the coughin’
Rosa Feola, still scheduled for a run of performances as Violetta in New York this spring, is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Rosa Feola, still scheduled for a run of performances as Violetta in New York this spring, is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Landing the plane
With Nixon, Klinghoffer, and Andris Nelsons on the mind, Parterre Box offers a recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent John Adams outing.
With Nixon, Klinghoffer, and Andris Nelsons on the mind, Parterre Box offers a recording of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent John Adams outing.
Le galant tireur
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
American tenor Charles Castronovo performs a bit of Weber’s Der Freischütz ahead of the opportunity to hear Berlioz‘s take on the score at Carnegie Hall next week.
My 600 performance life
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
Parterre Box acknowledges Riccardo Muti‘s 600th performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by highlighting two of his favorite singers — under a different conductor.
Starring Elina Garanca and Lawrence Brownlee, conducted by Maurizio Benini. From May 9, 2009.
“Disillusioned with life, the aged philosopher Faust calls upon Satan to help him.” Production by David McVicar.
Wagner must intrude at some point because he invented film music.
Born on this day in 1914 soprano Eleanor Steber.
This William Kentridge production stars Elza van den Heever, Gerhard Siegel, Peter Mattei and Christian van Horn, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. From January 11, 2020.
Roberto Frontali (Rigoletto), Ayón Rivas (Duca di Mantova), Rosa Feola (Gilda), Riccardo Zanellato (Sparafucile); Sul podio Daniele Gatti, regia di Damiano Michieletto.
My first exposure to Lucia di Lammermoor came under the auspices of The Three Stooges.
Trove Thursday relishes neglected works, operas in translation and irreplaceable divas, and this week it presents a pair that embody all three affections: Cherubini’s Les Abencérages and Weber’s Oberon in Italian with the glorious Anita Cerquetti, conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini and Vittorio Gui respectively.
Talk of the Town
A favorite Verdi performance from Ben Miller
The dictionary definition of Kuntenserven.
The dictionary definition of Kuntenserven.
A favorite Verdi performance from Timothy Gray
When I was a fledgling opera enthusiast, professors at a small-town Wisconsin college routinely travelled to Chicago for Lyric Opera performances.
When I was a fledgling opera enthusiast, professors at a small-town Wisconsin college routinely travelled to Chicago for Lyric Opera performances.
A favorite Verdi performance from Darby Fegan
Anna Tomowa-Sintow, “Ernani Involami,” from the MET Centenial Gala, 1983.
Anna Tomowa-Sintow, “Ernani Involami,” from the MET Centenial Gala, 1983.
A favorite Verdi performance from CKurwenal
Like probably all of us, there are so many different things I could have submitted for a favorite Verdi performance.
Like probably all of us, there are so many different things I could have submitted for a favorite Verdi performance.
A favorite Verdi performance from La Grunowa
I realize Igor Gorin did not sing much Verdi except for a few Papa Germonts, yet this performance of the famous baritone aria from Attila I claim is well-night perfect singing.
I realize Igor Gorin did not sing much Verdi except for a few Papa Germonts, yet this performance of the famous baritone aria from Attila I claim is well-night perfect singing.
A favorite Verdi performance from Ryan Ellerman
Luminous Lucia Popp’s “Caro Nome” beams with Gilda’s youthful passion, displaying Popp’s signature bright, beautiful timbre and magnificent coloratura.
Luminous Lucia Popp’s “Caro Nome” beams with Gilda’s youthful passion, displaying Popp’s signature bright, beautiful timbre and magnificent coloratura.
Born on this day in 1911 singer, dancer and actress Ginger Rogers.
Starring Maria Guleghina, Marina Poplavskaya, Marcello Giordani and Samuel Ramey, conducted by Andris Nelsons. From November 7, 2009.
This afternoon, the Teatro Real in Madrid livestreams their much-discussed “distanced” staging with a cast headed by Marina Rebeka, Michael Fabiano and Artur Rucinski.
Happy 41st birthday to Broadway’s Laura Benanti.
Starring Ileana Cotrubas, Plácido Domingo and Cornell MacNeil, conducted by James Levine. From March 28, 1981.
Happy Bastille Day!
Starring Kristine Opolais, Roberto Alagna, Massimo Cavalletti and Brindley Sherratt, conducted by Fabio Luisi. From March 5, 2016.
Musikalische Leitung: Lothar Zagrosek. Regie: Christof Nel.
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