Die singende Stadt
A documentary on how Stuttgart Opera’s Parsifal was produced in 2009/10.
Recent Stories
We are magicians
In Moses und Aron Schoenberg’s struggle with the essence of his own Jewishness is the cosmic glue that bonds Kosky’s to Schoenberg’s vision.
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).
We’ve often rewound the clock
Born on this day in 1894 orchestrator and composer Robert Russell Bennett.
Rodelinda
Conducted by Harry Bicket; starring Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, Andreas Scholl, Iestyn Davies, Joseph Kaiser and Shenyang. Transmitted live on December 3, 2011.
Table for three
On this day in 1972 the Metropolitan Opera presented an all-star Rigoletto with Sherrill Milnes, Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti.
The Gambler
Performance of Prokofiev’s Igrok on October 7, 2017 at the Vienna State Opera.
“Rust, bones and the wind”
Terror and breakdown is hinted at strongly, almost blatantly, but the characters never seem to move an inch past the comfort zone.
Center square
Born on this day in 1926 comedian and actor Paul Lynde.
Il trittico
From San Francisco Opera, filmed live in HD at the War Memorial Opera House in 2009.
Moses und Aron
Barrie Kosky and Vladimir Jurowski collaborate on this splendid production of Schoenberg’s unfinished masterpiece.
La fanciulla del West
Nina Stemme and Jonas Kaufmann star in this performance conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, as telecast October 5, 2013.
Tabloid
Born on this day in 1899 photographer and journalist Weegee.
The Ghosts of Versailles
John Corigliano and William M. Hoffmann‘s gay fantasia on royalist themes, as telecast on January 10, 1992.
Ariadne auf Naxos
Lise Davidsen, Stephen Gould and Erin Morley star in this performance from the Vienna State Opera.
S that all there S?
Starry galas are popping up everywhere lately so it’s time for Trove Thursday’s, a challenging panoply trodding mostly off the beaten path—with an S-twist!
A rose is still a rose
Born on this day in 1864 composer Richard Strauss. Born on this day in 1913 mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens.
Il trittico
From the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
“Le Mozart noir”
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint George is frequently referred to as “le Mozart noir.” While surely intended as a favorable comparison to Mozart, the sobriquet is diminishing, implying that Bologne’s music was somehow derivative of Mozart’s.
A first-rate version of herself
Born on this day in 1922 Miss Show Business.
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
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
Sondra Radvanovksy heads the cast in this performance from the Vienna State Opera on March 28, 2015.
What rapture serene
Born on this day in 1891 composer Cole Porter.