The great sinner
Happy 55th birthday baritone Peter Mattei.
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Blackout Tuesday
The Metropolitan Opera has paused its streaming opera telecasts today to observe Blackout Tuesday.
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).
Rigoletto
Michael Fabiano, Quinn Kelsey and Olga Peretyatko star in this production from the Paris Opéra Bastille.
On the beach
On the first viewing of this Idomeneo, with a cast clad mostly in military khaki green set against a green sky, the eye starts to tire from the dullness of the surroundings.
I puritani
Conducted by Patrick Summers; starring Anna Netrebko, Eric Cutler, Franco Vassallo and John Relyea. Transmitted live on January 6, 2007.
Met postpones opening to December 31
The Metropolitan Opera announced today that the company has made the difficult decision to cancel the first few months of its 2020–21 season, based on current information regarding the ongoing health crisis. The new season is now scheduled to begin on December 31, 2020, with a special gala performance, the details of which will be shared at a later date.
Monday concert
Bass Günther Groissböck headlines a live program of songs, chamber music and dance from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Like a diamond
Happy 75th birthday mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade.
Salome
Karita Mattila‘s legendary interpretation in a performance from the Met on October 11, 2008.
Sorochintsy Fair
Barrie Kosky directs Mussorgsky’s comic opera at the Komische Oper Berlin.
Wicked Lady
Born on this day in 1931 mezzo-soprano/soprano Shirley Verrett.
L’elisir d’amore
Conducted by Domingo Hindoyan; starring Pretty Yende, Matthew Polenzani, Davide Luciano, and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo. Transmitted live on February 10, 2018.
Breaking the Waves
Opera Philadelphia’s Digital Festival O presents the broadcast premiere of the opera from Brooklyn-based composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek.
Third Wives’ Club
On this day in 1536 King Henry VIII of England married Jane Seymour.
La sonnambula
Starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez, from March 21, 2009.
Rigoletto
George Petean, Saimir Pirgu and Aleksandra Kurzak star, conducted by Fabio Luisi.
Don’t turn the light on!
There are a number of fine elements in this film, and a couple that are exceptional—but I can’t get over the wrongness of its look.
Some sort of a genius
Born on this day in 1897 composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Les Troyens
Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Bryan Hymel and Dwayne Croft star in this HD telecast transmitted live on January 5, 2013.
Salome
Lise Lindstrom, Waltraud Meier and Michael Volle star in this performance from the Vienna State Opera.
Multiple Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana began Pietro Mascagni’s career with a bang, and despite a number of fine subsequent works the composer never again achieved the same lasting success that he had with his first.
The odd couple
Born on this day in 1925 baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and in 1943 soprano Elena Suliotis.