Youth has no age
Led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Yoann Combémorel, the Curtis Symphony Orchestra proves themselves the equal of any major American orchestra in a program of Mahler, Wagner, and Dawson.
Recent Stories
Broadcast
Pelléas et Mélisande / BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth conducts Huw Montague Rendall and Sophie Bevan in the title roles in a performance recorded last week in Glasgow.
Streamed April 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM
8 comments
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).
A favorite art song performance from feliks
This song has always been one of my favorites.
By feliks
19 comments
A favorite art song performance from Remko Jas
The song recitals I remember most vividly were, unsurprisingly, the most vivid ones.
By Remko Jas
28 comments
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.
A favorite art song performance from Krunoslav
The staggeringly great Ukraine-born Jewish bass Mark Reizen sings “The Ebullient Kura Swirls” a/k/a “The Persian Love Song” by Moldova-born Jewish composer Anton Rubinstein.
By Krunoslav
13 comments
Anime sante degli avi
Madama Butterfly confronts anime, virtual reality, and weeaboos in Matthew Ozawa‘s bold production at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Sfortuna nell’amore vale fortuna al giuoco
Parterre Box is announcing a formal partnership with Kalshi Inc.
A favorite art song performance from Ivy Lin
Frida Leider is a major Wagnerian soprano who does not sound like a Wagnerian soprano.
Hit me with your best Shoshty
Barrie Kosky’s zany production of The Nose time-steps back onto the Komische Oper Berlin stage.
A favorite bass performance from Michael Anthonio
As a (former) bass singer myself, I’ve always been captivated by this aria.
Suffering a sea-change
Calixto Bieito‘s production of Idomeneo at La Monnaie is anchored by a committed cast, but gets swept up in pseudo-psychoanalytic imagery — and foot fetishism.
Which witch?
Washington National Opera offered a searing production of Robert Ward’s opera The Crucible, directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, as the second installment in the company’s next chapter.
A favorite performance from Margarete Cum Klose
Pure class. Kurt Moll really knew his own voice inside out.
By Margarete Cum Klose
49 comments
Broadcast
Un ballo in maschera / Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Enrique Mazzola conducts a live performance from Berlin starring Charles Castronovo, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Anna Netrebko, and Anna Kissjudit
Streamed March 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM
43 comments
Broadcast
Lohengrin / Baden-Baden
Joana Mallwitz conducts Piotr Beczała, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, and Wolfgang Koch in a slightly delayed performance from Baden-Baden
Streamed March 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM
25 comments
Streamed March 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM
466 comments
A favorite bass performance from Christopher Corwin
As we reach the end of “Bass Month” I’d like to call attention to the superb American Gregory Reinhart who particularly shone in music by Jean-Philippe Rameau.
Follow the signs
Opera directors could learn a thing or two from Deaf Broadway’s vivacious performance of Jeanine Tesori‘s Violet.
A favorite bass performance from TildyDiva
The greatest bass performance I ever experienced was actually four – four performances in four roles.
By TildyDiva
68 comments
Road shows
Brendan Latimer hitches a ride with members of the “site-responsive opera” movement who are taking their shows out of the opera house — and out of the box.
Gild the Lily
Lisette Oropesa, Piotr Buszewski, and Luca Salsi feature in a rote revival of Michael Mayer‘s cloying production of La traviata.
A favorite bass performance from William Guanbo Su
This performance was introduced to me by Norman Treigle’s granddaughter —very fine mezzo-soprano Emily Treigle; while I was preparing the role of Olin Blitch, and it completely changed my understanding of the character.
By William Guanbo Su
76 comments