Broadcast: Parsifal
An early start for today’s broadcast, cher public: get enlightened starting at 11:30 AM.
Recent Stories
To live with dishonor
On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Measuring up
On this day in 1966, the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.
The advent of the Nézet-Séguin era: announcing the Metropolitan Opera’s 2018-2019 season
Accelerating his arrival as Music Director by two seasons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will take up the post in time for the start of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2018–19 season, it was announced today.
Quote unquote
Either venomous fishwife Norman Lebrecht has deliberately misquoted and misinterpreted what Jonas Kaufmann said in a recent interview, or else Jonas Kaufmann needs to go fuck himself.
Shack, rattle and roll
Happy 71st birthday composer John Adams.
Hemisemidemiramide
The problem with trying to revive Semiramide today is competing with the memory of the spectacular casting lavished upon the work during the golden age of the Volpe era.
Bringing up Babylon
“Trove Valentine’s Day” further stokes Semiramis-fever with another of the celebrated works about the infamous queen: La Semiramide riconosciuta, a superb 1729 opera by Nicola Porpora.
Miss Fleming is ageless
Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Ash Wednesday! And happy 59th birthday soprano Renée Fleming!
“If it can’t fit into a suitcase, you don’t really need it”
Happy 49th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.
BASTA: The overt and the subliminal
As if the corner of Broadway and 53rd weren’t already busy enough, Evan Ingersoll couldn’t believe the line leading into the Mariachi Playhouse where BASTA tryouts were held.
“There was skating on the Hudson last night.”
One can only assume that Sally Struthers wanted too much money.
Broadcast: Il trovatore
Yet another whack at Trovatore tonight starting at 7:25, cher public!
Ancien Regie
Happy 95th birthday director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.
All woman
On this day in 1966 soprano Pilar Lorengar made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Elvira.
An evening in the Sewers
Mean, moody, magnificent Matt Baume (left) hosts a live version of his celebrated podcast The Sewers of Paris this afternoon beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern time.
Heavy meta
So as not to play favorites at her Los Angeles recital last week, Renée Fleming performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion while wearing Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Broadcast: L’elisir d’amore
This week’s dose of love potion will be taken a little early, cher public.
Opera = Drag
Cher public, you are invited to submit your own choices of images best illustrating the tenuous line between Kunst and female impersonation.
Princess Bride
Alluring Anna Netrebko sings an aria from Tsarskaya nevesta two nights ago.
Blonde faith
On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut and broadcast debut as Desdemona.
Horne in the morning and June at night
Semiramide produced at Carnegie Hall by Matthew Epstein in 1983 with June Anderson, Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey and Douglas Ahlstedt with Henry Lewis conducting.