General practicioner General practicioner

Jorge de León will sing Radamès in the February 28, March 4, and March 7 performances of Verdi’s Aida, replacing Aleksandrs Antonenko.

“It can never be a simple experience” “It can never be a simple experience”

“I am an artist first, but also Catholic and homosexual.”

Metro opera

Born on this day in 1902 impresario and opera manager Rudolf Bing.

Neigh sayers: Frightening the Horses Neigh sayers: Frightening the Horses

At tonight’s performance of Aida at the Met, the Triumphal Scene horses suddenly panicked and tried to bolt from the stage. I can’t say I blame them.

Neurotic modern heroine Neurotic modern heroine

Born on this day in 1926 soprano Evelyn Lear.

Borderlines Borderlines

While 4.48 Psychosis is an intricately-crafted, deeply moving portrait of human agony, Pancho Villa from a Safe Distance lacks the creative clout to realize its artistic ambitions.

Trauma queens Trauma queens

Though barely a week old, 2019 has already provided New Yorkers with an essential, breathtaking music drama focusing on two women struggling for their very survival.

Pioneer woman Pioneer woman

On this day in 1955 contralto Marian Anderson made her historic Metropolitan Opera debut.

Webcast: The Bartered Bride Webcast: The Bartered Bride

Live from the Bayerische Staatsoper: The Bartered Bride.

The d’Arc knight rises The d’Arc knight rises

Born on this day in 1412 heroine of France, martyr and saint Jeanne d’Arc.

Broadcast: Otello Broadcast: Otello

This rainy afternoon’s Met broadcast: Otello.

“Es verkündigt die Ankunft  unserer Königin” “Es verkündigt die Ankunft  unserer Königin”

On this day in 1977 soprano Edita Gruberova made her Met debut as the Queen of the Night.

State of Grace State of Grace

Happy 82nd birthday soprano/mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry.

What has made it numb? What has made it numb?

At the New York Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve gala? Really? 

The flèche is weak The flèche is weak

Claude Debussy wrote a number of large-scale vocal/choral pieces two of which are featured today on “Trove Thursday”: La Damoiselle élue and Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien.

“Petite and chic as ever” “Petite and chic as ever”

On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated the 25th anniversary of the debut of soprano Lily Pons with a special gala performance.

Out code Out code

Joining the talking and singing heads of Aria Code is Our Own JJ, deconstructing “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix.”

All of my laughter All of my laughter

On this day in 1969 opened one of the most notorious flops of the 1960s, The Fig Leaves Are Falling, which opened at the Broadhurst Theatre to run only four performances.

Alpha blog Alpha blog

Widely-publicized parterre box garnered 3,623,050 pageviews for the more than 1,200 articles published during 2018.

Brute force Brute force

Alban Berg’s compact yet potent oeuvre has long played an outsized role in shaping my understanding of music’s aesthetic evolution.

“He is a living force” “He is a living force”

On this day in 1908 composer Gustav Mahler made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera conducting Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.

A talent to a Muse A talent to a Muse

Use bodily force and get your friends to one of the next five performances of the Met’s new production of Adriana Lecouvreur. It is everything!

Troppo, signori… troppo! Troppo, signori… troppo!

We reach the final day of “The Advent of Anna” in anticipation of her first Met Adriana Lecouvreur, to be broadcast tonight at 5:55 PM.

New acquaintance New acquaintance

On this day in 2009 Yannick Nézet-Séguin made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Carmen.