Tree for the show Tree for the show

The late-mid 1730s were transitional years for Handel, to put it nicely.

Deine Divadienste will die Frau Deine Divadienste will die Frau

I wish to introduce our younger Parterrians to the magical Martha Mödl to commemorate the opening of the Bayreuther Festspiele which opens tomorrow afternoon. 

“Oatmeal tastes so good on its own, you don’t even need to add sugar” “Oatmeal tastes so good on its own, you don’t even need to add sugar”

Happy 49th birthday singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth.

Home girl Home girl

Happy 45th birthday soprano Anja Harteros.

Broadcast(s): Getting medieval Broadcast(s): Getting medieval

As if to usher in next week’s daily broadcasts from Bayreuth, this afternoon offers a choice between two Wagner operas: Lohengrin from the Vienna State Opera and Tannhäuser from Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Mother of Exiles Mother of Exiles

Born on this day 1849 poet Emma Lazarus.

Birthday enjoyed by all Birthday enjoyed by all

Happy 60th birthday actor Jon Lovitz.

Drunk in both head and heart Drunk in both head and heart

This week’s “Trove Thursday” offers Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice featuring Anthony Rolfe Johnson.

Move over, sun, and give me some sky Move over, sun, and give me some sky

Born on this day in 1938 actress Natalie Wood.

Im Körper des Feindes Im Körper des Feindes

Congratulations to our friends at the Bayerische Staatsoper for their successful application to real-time opera performances of face-swapping software!

One little name to remember is better than having a string One little name to remember is better than having a string

Happy 91st birthday actress Helen Gallagher.

Tragedy tonight Tragedy tonight

In May of last year tenor Piotr Beczala and soprano Anna Netrebko sang in Lohengrin for the first time under the baton of Christian Thielemann in his home house at the Staatskapelle Dresden.

Burn notice Burn notice

On this day in 64 the Great Fire of Rome began under the Emperor Nero.

From the house of the immortals From the house of the immortals

On 07 May 2007 the air inside Theater an der Wien crackled with anticipation before the premiere of Leos Janácek’s Z mrtvého domu (From the House of the Dead) in a production by Patrice Chéreau conducted by Pierre Boulez. 

Silent music starts to play Silent music starts to play

Happy 82nd birthday actress and singer Diahann Carroll.

Backwards and in high heels Backwards and in high heels

Born on this day in 1911 dancer and actress Ginger Rogers.

Broadcast: Don Giovanni Broadcast: Don Giovanni

Mariusz Kwiecien heads the cast of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Don Giovanni, starting at 1:00 PM today.

La sonnambula La sonnambula

Happy 67th birthday author and blogress Arianna Huffington.

Broadcast: Turandot Broadcast: Turandot

Lise Lindstrom and Roberto Alagna (not pictured) head the cast of the Royal Opera House’s Turandot.

Tenors gone wild Tenors gone wild

Among several fine productions at Aix this summer, Dmitri Tcherniakov’s brilliantly conceived and executed Carmen proved a game changer. 

Contre nous de la tyrannie l’étendard sanglant est levé Contre nous de la tyrannie l’étendard sanglant est levé

We at parterre box wish you a joyous and thoughtful Bastille Day.

Dramatic ARC Dramatic ARC

Wednesday brought Christopher Alden’s grimly dark and violent take on Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo at National Sawdust.

Czar search Czar search

The highlight of this year’s Bard Summerscape festival must be a rare staging of Dvorak’s Dimitrij.

Soprano/critic Soprano/critic

Born on this day in 1921 soprano Marcella Pobbè.