Entrances and exits
Leading the parterre box top ten for the month of February: a new season and the (apparent) end of a legendary career.
Recent Stories
Never mind the ants
On this day in 1960 debonair Don Ameche donned yellowface to star in the notorious flop musical 13 Daughters, which ran 28 performances.
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
The 2020 finalists perform on the Met stage this afternoon for an audience of judges, agents, industry leaders, and the general public.
A change is gonna come
In the opera world, one of the pieces that underwent a multitude of changes in its reception was undoubtedly Richard Wagner’s longest and most Germanic opera, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
A massacred ball
On this day in 1836 Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots premiered in Paris.
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
Was ist’s mit den ewigen Göttern?
Christine Goerke‘s Bayreuth debut has been canceled.
One goddess, one Hallenberg!
Although I usually pretend that I don’t have the diva-worship gene, sharp-eyed readers of parterre box will know that since I joined the site in 2011 as “DeCaffarrelli” I have often swooned as an Ann Hallenberg-fanboi.
Welcome to the dollhouse
On this day in 1910 prima ballerina Anna Pavlova made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Coppelia (on a double bill with Werther!)
The three faces of Lisette
The season’s second cast delivered a satisfying, if not transcendent, La Traviata at the Met last night as they struggled to emerge from piles of jewel tone brocade and gold filigree.
Quand votre sœur Charlotte est là!
Trove Thursday previews Massenet’s Werther—due to return next month at the Met—with a 1984 Paris performance starring two marvelous protagonists, Tatiana Troyanos and Alain Vanzo.
“Even when we speak it is musical”
Born on this day in 1935 soprano Mirella Freni.
She ain’t down yet
The fabulous Beth Malone is the Molly Brown of my dreams—forthright, bold, and a superbly gifted singer with just the right touch of country twang.
Castles made of sand
Jakub Józef Orlinski‘s “Stille amare” packed a lot of punch in terms of dramatic intensity.
To think of shadows
Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.
Look what happened to “Mabel”
Time heals almost everything, as Jerry Herman’s best score is stylishly resurrected.
Skeleton key
Original Director Richard Jones and revival director Benjamin Davis have created a staging that veers wildly between fascinating and fatally flawed.
Madrid 86es Domingo
“I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I have grown from this experience.”
Roberto dangerously
For those of you keeping track at home that’s four substitutions for three roles and the curtain hasn’t even gone up yet.
Roz’s turn
On this day in 1953 Rosalind Russell topped the bill on the opening night of Wonderful Town, with a score by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Another version of the sleuth
Opera for families may not generally be my thing, but I loved feeling like I was a tiny part of shaping a new opera.
