“You have to be able to enthral and persuade at the same time” “You have to be able to enthral and persuade at the same time”

Happy 77th birthday conductor Riccardo Muti.

Broadcast: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Broadcast: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

The 2018 Bayreuth Festival continues with Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg , with a live broadcast starting at 10:00 AM EDT.

If I could be with you one scour tonight If I could be with you one scour tonight

“Too sexy” is a hell of an accusation for a woman wearing a giant mesh Brillo pad!

Portrait of a lady Portrait of a lady

Happy 66th birthday soprano Carol Vaness.

Broadcast: Tristan und Isolde

The 2018 Bayreuth Festival continues with Tristan und Isolde, with a live broadcast starting at 10:00 AM EDT.

You mean the butcher, Grandma You mean the butcher, Grandma

La Cieca wishes to be among the first to congratulate Jessye Norman, who has emerged from semi-retirement to leap upon the musical theater bandwagon.

You shall know them by their ‘Flutes’ You shall know them by their ‘Flutes’

This year’s Salzburg Festival opens Saturday with a new production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, an opera often performed elsewhere in translation, so “Trove Thursday” offers two for the price (!) of one.

Broadcast: Parsifal Broadcast: Parsifal

The 2018 Bayreuth Festival continues with Parisfal, with a live broadcast starting at 10:00 AM EDT. 

Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe

Happy 50th birthday soprano Anne Schwanewilms.

Alexander was great Alexander was great

As the first of the 2018 opera productions last Saturday, the Merola Opera Program chose Mozart’s rarely-performed early serenata, Il re pastore.

“Lights are to drama what music is to the lyrics of a song” “Lights are to drama what music is to the lyrics of a song”

Born on this day in 1853 theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright David Belasco.

Broadcast: Lohengrin Broadcast: Lohengrin

The 2018 Bayreuth Festival opens today with Lohengrin, directed by Yuval Sharon, with a live broadcast starting at 10:00 AM EDT.

Lakeside ‘Story’ Lakeside ‘Story’

Sunny, lakeside Cooperstown presents a peppy, exuberant, winning production of West Side Story, the musical.

The wedding singers The wedding singers

Caramoor imported the venerable West-Coast period orchestra Philharmonia Baroque to perform Atalanta, an obscure pastoral work by Handel.

A nice pair of Jimmy Choos never hurt anyone A nice pair of Jimmy Choos never hurt anyone

Happy 50th birthday singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth.

Chenez turn Chenez turn

Dapper countertenor Ray Chenez is temporarily putting aside the turbans of his operatic career for, well, the turbans of a Broadway diva as he appeals via Indiegogo for funding to record a CD of show tunes.

Gentlemen prefer mezzos Gentlemen prefer mezzos

Happy 58th birthday mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.

Brian Kellow 1959-2018 Brian Kellow 1959-2018

We have just heard the sad news that author and longtime Opera News editor Brian Kellow died earlier today. He was 59.

Quelle cose che han nome poesia Quelle cose che han nome poesia

Born on this day in 1909 soprano Licia Albanese.

Forever young Forever young

Magnanimous Michael Fabiano graces today’s parterre saturday afternoon webcast in a two-part interview during the intermissions of Gounod’s Faust.

Clair de Lune Clair de Lune

On this day in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon.

Aggrieved is the glorious work Aggrieved is the glorious work

What could go wrong? As it turned out: just about everything!

You spin me right round, baby You spin me right round, baby

“Labels play a hugely important role in our listening lives.”

I want to livecast! I want to livecast!

Our Own JJ presents a very special parterre saturday afternoon: Gounod’s Faust, plus an exclusive two-part video interview with tenor Michael Fabiano.