Già la mansplain e preparata Già la mansplain e preparata

“È tutto amore! Chi a una sola è fedele, verso l’altre è crudele; io che in me sento si esteso sentimento, vo’ bene a tutte quante; le donne poiché calcolar non sanno, il mio buon natural chiamano inganno.”

J’entends pleurer J’entends pleurer

On this day in 1962 conductor Ernest Ansermet made his in-house Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Pelléas and Mélisande.

The Queen of Spades The Queen of Spades

Tonight’s broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s ghost story begins at 7:30 PM.

Sweet 1600s Sweet 1600s

Over the past week New York City was blessed by two appealing 17th century presentations: John Blow’s Venus and Adonis from Opera Lafayette and La Storia di Orfeo courtesy of the Boston Early Music Festival.

A journey to a star A journey to a star

Born on this day in 1895 film choreographer and director Busby Berkeley.

Altre parole bisbigliavi Altre parole bisbigliavi

Anna Netrebko, in Milan preparing a new production of Tosca for La Scala’s opening night, fires back at an interviewer.

“A first-class second-rate composer” “A first-class second-rate composer”

Trove Thursday explores the alpha and omega of Richard Strauss.

Fill me with flaming desire Fill me with flaming desire

On this day in 1934 torch singer Libby Holman moaned the Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz standard “You and the Night and the Music” on the opening night of the musical Revenge with Music.

It’s now or Neva It’s now or Neva

In preparation for her much-awaited Met debut, Lise Davidsen sings the arioso from Queen of Spades.

Strange magic Strange magic

We’ve had a mini-fest of director Barrie Kosky’s work this year at LA Opera.

Sweet prince Sweet prince

South African Jacques Imbrailo’s high-lying baritone did much to highlight the lyrical possibilities of the title role of Hamlet, originally conceived for a tenor.

Prima ballerina Prima ballerina

On this day in 1951 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a new production of Aida, which featured the debut of African-American dancer Janet Collins.

Van Oostrum sings! Van Oostrum sings!

Though no recording of Sunday’s lauded performance of Lohengrin from the Bayerische Staatsoper has yet surfaced, here are a couple of excerpts from Der Freischütz sung by Johanni van Oostrum.

Opera tickets to give away Opera tickets to give away

A parterre box reader has had to cancel an opera trip to Germany scheduled from November 29 – December 6 and wants if possible to share his tickets with members of the cher public.

Honor and harmony Honor and harmony

It’s that time of year again, cher public: the 47th 15th annual announcement of the recipients of the F. Paul Driscoll Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence!

“Maybe nothing ever like it” “Maybe nothing ever like it”

On this day in 1961 soprano Joan Sutherland made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lucia.

Moods for moderns Moods for moderns

Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, always with a gift for gab, is ever more loquacious in concerts, often talking directly to the audience.

Seal the deal Seal the deal

Yusif Eyvazov will sing Hermann in the performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades on November 29 and December 2 and 5, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko, who has withdrawn due to illness.”

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.