A first-rate version of herself A first-rate version of herself

Born on this day in 1922 Miss Show Business.

Iolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle Iolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle

Conducted by Valery Gergiev; starring Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala in Iolanta, and Nadja Michael and Mikhail Petrenko in Bluebeard’s Castle. Transmitted live on February 14, 2015.

Outsider art Outsider art

The opera titled L’Amant anonyme (“The Anonymous Lover”) is important because it is one of the earliest known operas by a Black composer that still survives in its entirety.

Aida Aida

Sondra Radvanovksy heads the cast in this performance from the Vienna State Opera on March 28, 2015.

What rapture serene What rapture serene

Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.

From a distance From a distance

Of 511 epidemiologists polled, about two thirds expect that it will be more than one year from now before they expect to “attend a sporting event, concert or play.”

La clemenza di Tito La clemenza di Tito

Harry Bicket leads Lucy Crowe, Barbara Frittoli, Elina Garanca, Kate Lindsey and Giuseppe Filianoti in this Met HD telecast from December 1, 2012.

Golden splendor and hell Golden splendor and hell

I have seen all sorts of Boris Godunovs, but nothing quite like this.

This is my belief, in brief This is my belief, in brief

Born on this day in 1921 actress Alexis Smith.

Thaïs Thaïs

Mean, moody magnificent Renée Fleming puts the “tease” in “courtesan.”

Martius, Martius, Martius! Martius, Martius, Martius!

Tom Hiddleston manages to balance the many layers of Coriolanus, from his military strength and hot temper, to his strangely overpowering sense of personal dignity, which is ultimately his tragic flaw.

Madama Butterfly Madama Butterfly

A one-time stream of the Princeton Festival’s 2018 production.

Chevalier Chevalier

Happy 57th birthday tenor Roberto Alagna.

Otello Otello

Conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin; starring Sonya Yoncheva, Aleksandrs Antonenko, and Zeljko Lucic. Transmitted live on October 17, 2015.

Quantum leap Quantum leap

By a margin of more than two to one, the cher public has chosen “O Scarpia, avanti a Dio!” as the greatest of all opera curtain lines.

Queen of technicolor Queen of technicolor

Born on this day in 1912 actress Maria Montez.

The Exterminating Angel The Exterminating Angel

Thomas Adès conducts his own massively ironic pastiche of an opera, as telecast in the Met’s Live in HD series on November 18, 2017.

The last word: final round The last word: final round

It’s come down to this: the two finalists in the Best Opera Curtain Line competition.

Bad news bared Bad news bared

The Metropolitan Opera is heading for a very rocky couple of years.

I wanna baroque I wanna baroque

Happy 55th birthday soprano Sandrine Piau.

Parsifal Parsifal

The legendary Calixto Bieito production of Wagner’s music drama, streamed from Staatsoper Stuttgart.

Tosca Tosca

Starring Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti and Cornell MacNeil. Transmitted live on December 19, 1978.

The last word: semifinals The last word: semifinals

We move now to the semi-finals of the Best Opera Curtain Line competition.

Elektra Elektra

Featuring Anna Larsson, Nina Stemme, Gun-Brit Barkmin, Norbert Ernst and Falk Struckmann, conducted by Mikko Franck.