Pillar of society Pillar of society

On this day in 1977 tenor Guy Chauvet made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Samson.

Happy Grail to you Happy Grail to you

It’s practically heretical to let Holy Week go by without a session of Parsifal.

She’s not a well woman She’s not a well woman

On this day in 1891 Mme. Vera Galupe-Borszkh sang the role of “Violetta” in Verdi’s La traviata for the very first time in her career.

Cabal me by your name Cabal me by your name

It’s fortunate that the Met’s production of Luisa Miller featured the incomparable Piotr Beczala in the role of Rodolfo.

Broadcast: Così fan tutte Broadcast: Così fan tutte

Hop on the Q train to Coney Island, cher public, by which I mean tune in your radio at 1:00 PM, to hear and to discuss!

The kink’s English The kink’s English

A new production of La traviata by Daniel Kramer, the current artistic director of ENO, brings fresh ideas to the classic drama.

Ain’t it a pretty opening night? Ain’t it a pretty opening night?

On this day in 1999 the Metropolitan Opera offered its first production of Carlisle Floyd‘s Susannah.

Garden variety Garden variety

Amadigi di Gaula performed the Opera Settecento orchestra last Saturday night at St. George—Handel’s own parish church—fit perfectly into the venue.

The best of everything The best of everything

Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper’s victory lap at Carnegie Hall concluded Thursday night with a sumptuous Der Rosenkavalier spectacularly conducted by Kirill Petrenko

Nun freut sich alle Kreatur Nun freut sich alle Kreatur

Good Friday 2018. 

Broadcast: Luisa Miller Broadcast: Luisa Miller

Verdi’s Sturm und Drang opera returns to the Met tonight at 7:25.

It’s official! It’s official!

The important thing is that she’s happy.

Testament of youth Testament of youth

“Trove Thursday” offers a vernal take on Massenet’s magical Cendrillon (in English) featuring two sopranos: Margaret Price—not yet 30—and Anne Pashley, then just 35.

Drive in Drive in

On this day in 1982 conductor Bernard Haitink made his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting Fidelio.

Laughing song Laughing song

It can be confidently asserted that Edita Gruberova is one opera’s most gifted comediennes. 

All about that bass All about that bass

Happy 76th birthday Samuel Ramey! 

Power couple splits Power couple splits

Andris Nelsons and Kristine Opolais announced today they have divorced. 

Thanks for scaring Thanks for scaring

I found Fellow Travelers intellectually and politically riveting, musically thrilling, and profoundly moving. It was a triumph. 

Je ne sais ni son âge, ni qui elle est, ni d’où elle vient Je ne sais ni son âge, ni qui elle est, ni d’où elle vient

Happy 68th birthday mezzo-soprano/soprano Maria Ewing.

BASTA: O luce di quest’animus BASTA: O luce di quest’animus

Walls of tinted glass engirdled a heated portico-terrarium, where two figures could be seen polishing off the last of their Crêpes Suzette.

Less than hero Less than hero

Iestyn Davies’s theatrical blandness combined with his vocal unsuitability for the role left a hole at the center of Rinaldo.

The greatest star The greatest star

On this day in 1964 the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical Funny Girl opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, to run 1348 performances.

Family values Family values

A regular day in 2018 Washington, D.C., or Verdi’s Don Carlo?

Land of the giants Land of the giants

Born today, two colossi of the lyric theater: in 1867 conductor Arturo Toscanini and in 1910 soprano Magda Olivero.