Bleak house Bleak house

Karita Mattila’s Ortrud, taut conducting, and a remarkable debut emerge from Richard Jones’s dreary Lohengrin Konzept.

Singing through Singing through

A near-full house attended the Jessye Norman Memorial Celebration at the Met on Sunday afternoon, the auditorium packed with family, friends, colleagues, and fans of the late soprano, who passed away on September 30 of this year.

Maid love Maid love

The Berta (mezzo-soprano Emily Damasco) runs away with the show.

An opening for a princess An opening for a princess

On this day in 1959 Once Upon a Mattress transfered to the Alvin Theatre. The show, by composer Mary Rodgers, ran 450 performances and made a star of Carol Burnett.

This daughter of Wotan This daughter of Wotan

httpvh://youtu.be/Lkqirt1qjsc Born on this day in 1848 soprano Lilli Lehmann. On this day in 1938 tenor Jussi Bjoerling made his Met debut as Rodolfo. Mafalda Favero also made her debut as Mimi.

Wozzeck Wozzeck

Alban Berg‘s masterpiece launches the Bayerische Staatsoper’s 2019/2020 STAATSOPER.TV season.

Popular success Popular success

On this day in 1903 Enrico Caruso made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Duke of Mantua.

Revelation Revelation

Beg. Borrow. Steal. Bargain. Cajole. Seduce. Threaten. Extort.

Outside the box Outside the box

So here’s my question: if Tadzio is 27 years old and consciously flaunting his wang, is it still Death in Venice?

Thanks a million Thanks a million

“The Met acted quickly to cast her as Leonore in Fidelio, Chrysothemis in Elektra, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier.”

“It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful” “It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful”

Born on this day in 1913 composer Benjamin Britten.

La bohème La bohème

That bohemian opera returns to the airwaves tonight at 7:25 PM.

I’m a believer I’m a believer

For its gala 200th (!) edition Trove Thursday presents an all-star performance of Mussorgsky’s “other” great masterpiece Khovanshchina with Christa Ludwig, Martti Talvela, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Bernd Weikl and Wieslaw Ochman.

Dark victory Dark victory

On this day in 1967 conductor Herbert von Karajan bowed at the Metropolitan Opera conducting and directing Die Walküre.

Even the orchestra is beautiful Even the orchestra is beautiful

On this day in 1966 the landmark concept musical Cabaret opened at the Broadhurst Theatre to run 1,165 performances.

Grimm and proper Grimm and proper

Bring your family: This show is special! Such perfect opera is hard to find!

Darkness on the edge of town Darkness on the edge of town

Lyric Opera of Chicago’as Don Giovanni lands smack dab in the middle of our current debate about wanted or unwanted sexual advances and outright sexual abuse.

Nothing but the truth Nothing but the truth

On a new Opus Arte video, Ermonela Jaho is at the absolute peak of her powers both vocally and interpretively.

One night only One night only

Christine Goerke‘s distracted, tentative Isolde turned out to be the least potent feature of what was an otherwise exciting and effective second act of Tristan.

The way she was The way she was

On this day in 1962 soprano Régine Crespin made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Marschallin.

Reform follows function Reform follows function

Love in Hate Nation is a little musical that could and can… and I sure as hell hope it does!

“Non son più Ye, son dio” “Non son più Ye, son dio”

“A flawed leader with visions of grandeur who becomes mentally unstable is a plot line that [Kanye] West might relate to.”

Let your love flow Let your love flow

Saturday afternoon’s performance of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Met was awash with contradictions.

Shining star Shining star

On this day in 1974 tenor José Carreras made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Cavardossi.