A “Juive’ for the 21st century
A brilliant production of La Juive like that of Peter Konwitschny generalizes the message that mindless hate does not pay and the mindless mob is always the enemy of civilization.
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Now and for always
Happy 84th birthday soprano Montserrat Caballé.
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).
And in the ‘how’
Our selected Rosenkavalier video overview closes out the 20th-century selections, crosses the millennial mark, and includes the first of our performances to depart from the opera’s prescribed 18th-century setting.
L’ambigua
All right, so Renée Fleming says she’s not retiring from opera at the moment, and who should know better than she herself?
Hold your peace
Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem with Anna Netrebko, Ian Bostrdge, and Thomas Hampson in an incredibly moving performance from the 2013 Salzburger Festspiele.
Just duet
Lyric Opera of Chicago presented a highly anticipated joint recital featuring tenor Lawrence Brownlee, bass-baritone Eric Owens, and accompanist Craig Terry.
Hello, Illya!
On this day in 1967 the musical Illya Darling starring Melina Mercouri opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
Today or tomorrow or the day after that
“Time is a strange thing,” the lady observes, to a young man who cannot begin to understand what she is talking about.
Mister Fabulous, that’s you
Mr. Fabiano proceeded to pour gasoline over the audience and toss a lit match into the crowd with his rendition of “Granada.”
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
No good deed goes unpunished
Born on this day in 1903 playwright, politician, diplomat, and advisor to Presidents Clare Boothe Luce.
When women go wrong, men go right after them
On this day in 1928, the melodrama Diamond Lil, written by and starring Mae West, opened at the Royale Theater, to run 176 performances.
Broadcast: Tristan und Isolde
This afternoon at the civilized hour of 1:00 PM, the Met will broadcast a performance of Tristan und Isolde recorded in the fall.
A word from our sponsor
La Cieca and everyone else at parterre.com (not pictured) salute the advertisers who help bring opera news, gossip and reviews to you every day.
But I’m a jeer leader
The Royal Opera’s Sir Antonio Pappano considers the question of booing at the opera.
You’re an old smoothie
For only this weekend, our friends at Opera Depot have slashed prices by 60% on their collection of live recordings conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
‘Happy’ birthday
On this day in 1876 Ponchielli’s La Gioconda premiered in Milan.
East Side Story
Fiery Latinas Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews strike sparks!
Name that Neptune
The month of March 2017 on parterre box can be summed up in three topics: Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and religious Cretans.
Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid
Born on this day in 1897 newscaster/columnist Walter Winchell.
And I am telling you I’m not going
“I never said that I was stepping away from the opera stage for good.”
Da drin ist die silberne Ros’n
A week from tonight the Met premieres an eagerly anticipated new Der Rosenkavalier, its first in nearly 50 years—probably to the dismay of many grown used to the venerable Nathaniel Merrill–Robert O’Hearn production. As a preview “Trove Thursday” offers a live broadcast of Richard Strauss’s most popular opera with a delicious cast headed by Régine […]
Love’s a green eyed monster
Born on this day in 1928 model, actress and singer Joi Lansing.
