“My reality has been my key” “My reality has been my key”

Happy 84th birthday soprano Mirella Freni.

Let’s hear it for the boa Let’s hear it for the boa

What happens in Karlsruhe stays in Karlsruhe!

“To contemplate is to look at shadows” “To contemplate is to look at shadows”

Born on this day in 1802 author and playwright Victor Hugo.

Kitchen confidential Kitchen confidential

Since 1985, from the Chicago Symphony at Carnegie Hall to the Welsh National Opera visiting BAM and from Chicago Lyric to New York City Opera to the Met, I’ve never encountered a bad Falstaff—or one that didn’t astound and delight me. 

After the Fach After the Fach

I thought it would be a great exercise for commenters to organize something of a Parterre Fachbuch.

Women in revolt Women in revolt

The full title of the opera pretty much describes the plot: Il mondo alla roversa osia Le donne che comandano.

The natural The natural

On this day in 1948 tenor Giuseppe di Stefano made his Metropolitan Opera debut at the Duke of Mantua.

I was reborn to love you I was reborn to love you

A joyous 85th birthday to the tutelary goddess of parterre box, Renata Scotto.

Once more with feeling Once more with feeling

We humans tend to dislike uncertainty, therefore there is something comforting going to opera revivals; you know exactly what you are going to get. 

Broadcast: Karl V Broadcast: Karl V

A real novelty from the Bayerische Staatsoper this afternoon: Krenek’s Karl V.

Grande dame Grande dame

Born on this day in 1927 soprano Régine Crespin.

Welcome to the Machine Welcome to the Machine

Robert Lepage promises a more “urban” take on the work.

Cover girl Cover girl

Those of us who were hoping for “a star is born” performance were, alas, disappointed.

It’s my party It’s my party

On this day in 1980 baritone Leo Nucci made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Renato.

Windsor soup Windsor soup

“Trove Thursday” this week features the earliest of the fat-knight operas: Antonio Salieri’s 1799 Falstaff.

These old broads These old broads

Happy 66th birthday actress and songstress Christine Ebersole

Multitudes of Annas: Your 2019-2020 Met Season Announcement Multitudes of Annas: Your 2019-2020 Met Season Announcement

On New Years’ Eve 2019 the Met will offer a gala truly worthy of the name when Anna Netrebko sings acts from La bohème, Tosca and Turandot.

How many doors are in it How many doors are in it

On this day in 1934 the Gertrude Stein / Virgil Thomson opera Four Saints in Three Acts opened on Broadway.

Coming soon: The Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-2020 season Coming soon: The Metropolitan Opera’s 2019-2020 season

The Metropolitan Opera will announce its 2109-2020 season (including the company premiere of Glass’s Akhnaten) at noon tomorrow (Wednesday.)

The belle of 14th street The belle of 14th street

Born on this day in 1843 soprano Adelina Patti.

Bleeding of the eye Bleeding of the eye

Congratulations to venerable Opera News on their new hire, art director Harvey Dent.

Hail to the chief! Hail to the chief!

Happy Presidents Day!

Oh the ombra of it all! Oh the ombra of it all!

The expression “gayer than eight guys fucking nine guys” gets thrown around a lot these days…

Born too soon Born too soon

On this day in 1904, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its “disastrous” premiere at La Scala.