Lace misérables Lace misérables

“Carmencita Gets Caught in a Sudden Summer Rainstorm.”

In a deep vaulted cell In a deep vaulted cell

We convoke for Dido and Aeneas in an arched tunnel a city block long, lit by candles in the many recesses.

Maid that way Maid that way

Happy 54th birthday soprano Sandrine Piau.

Si ridesta in ciel l’aurora e n’è forza di partire Si ridesta in ciel l’aurora e n’è forza di partire

As La Cieca has said so often, there is nothing tackier than a low-budget regional production of Traviata.

What we do in the shadows What we do in the shadows

The Wiener Staatsoper commemorated its 150th anniversary with a musically sensational presentation of Richard Strauss’ Die Frau Ohne Schatten.

Paris in the springtime Paris in the springtime

La Traviata offered a cast of fresh debutantes and an uncommonly strong musical performance that could hardly be bettered.

Of two minds Of two minds

I wanted to like As One. I really did.

When in Rome When in Rome

Happy 53rd birthday mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli.

“To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up” “To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up”

Tosca, as it exists now, can’t be real, spontaneous drama-it’s just Camp.

Juan more time Juan more time

Happy 54th birthday baritone Peter Mattei.

Tales of the Golden Motel Tales of the Golden Motel

The gods get their kicks on Route 66.

Upon arrival Upon arrival

Lise Davidsen, the young Norwegian soprano who won the Operalia competition in 2015, makes her debut as a recording artist with the Decca label in a new recital of Wagner and Strauss arias and orchestral songs.

Nerve center

Happy 70th birthday tenor Neil Shicoff.

All I mask of you All I mask of you

Amore Opera, an old-fashioned, adventurous little company that performs ambitious and sometimes delectably obscure but worthy repertory at the Riverside Theatre, is now (through Sunday) presenting Un ballo in maschera.

Broadcast: Alceste Broadcast: Alceste

Live from the Bayerische Staatsoper, Gluck’s “reform opera” stars Charles Castronovo and Dorothea Röschmann.

Isn’t it bliss? Don’t you approve? Isn’t it bliss? Don’t you approve?

Happy 74th birthday mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade.

A little bit more A little bit more

On this day in 1979 distinguished film actress Liv Ullmann made her Broadway song-and-dance bow.

Revolution blues Revolution blues

The opera proved somewhat puzzling—the score representing more a collage of fragmented and incidental musical ideas, and the libretto a turgid, slow-moving mass of purple prose.

She’s a rebel, she’s a saint She’s a rebel, she’s a saint

Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco in a rare NYC concert performance with Margaret Price, Carlo Bergonzi and Sherrill Milnes.

She is music She is music

Galas, Charles Ludlam‘s legendary “modern tragedy” about a larger-than-life Greek opera diva with a tumultuous offstage life, opens Sunday, June 16.

Portrait of a lady Portrait of a lady

Born on this day in 1931 mezzo-soprano/soprano Shirley Verrett.

Never darken my Dior again! Never darken my Dior again!

Born on this day in 1894 actress, comedienne and diseuse Beatrice Lillie.

E avanti a lui tremava tutta Nagasaki E avanti a lui tremava tutta Nagasaki

Norman Lebrecht will open season with his own unrepentant ignorance.

Don’t you love farce? Don’t you love farce?

Staatsoper Berlin and the Met are programming Ken Ludwig‘s classic Lend Me a Tenor.