Medieval Times
Carl Orff’s cantata tries its fortunes at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
By Christina Colanduoni
Comment
Recent Stories
I’m still thinking about Peter Sellars’s Così fan tutte
I never thought an opera production could be this well done.
By Brian Newhouse
Comment
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).
Broadcast
Boris Godunov / Opéra de Lyon
Dmitry Ulyanov sings the title role in a performance recorded last month at the Opéra de Lyon
Streamed November 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Comment
Broadcast
Wozzeck / Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Simon Rattle conducts performance recorded in Munich last month with Christian Gerhaher and Malin Byström
Streamed November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Comment
We’re still thinking about Robert Carsen’s Mefistofele
Les Camilles both agree on this one. And WHY? You ask??!
By Les Camilles
Comment
La fiamma è bella!
A new recording of La fiamma from Deutsche Oper Berlin sets Respighi’s score ablaze.
Celebrate good times
Austin Opera’s 40th anniversary gala celebrated the present while gesturing boldly towards the future.
Broadcast
La clemenza di Tito / Teatro la Fenice
Ivor Bolton conducts Daniel Behle, Anastasia Bartoli, and Cecilia Molinari in a live broadcast from Venice
Streamed November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Pride in your work
Pittsburgh Opera’s Fellow Travelers delivers a timely story with detail and care.
Blue it
Jeanine Tesori’s Blue is an ambitious and worthy opera that deserves a better presentation than it got at Lincoln Center on Saturday.
I’m still thinking about Krzysztof Warlikowski’s Lulu
Barbara Hannigan‘s Lulu is the greatest live performance I’ve seen.
By Kevin Ng
Comment
Alien encounter
“Protect the dolls, they say, but who really cares for them?” This question, posed by performer Mara Snip during the postlude of Neuköllner Oper’s 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, had a clear answer: Aliens.
Closer to fine
Grand Tier Grab Bag looks forward to a big week for Umberto Giordano by sharing Sondra Radvanovsky and Gregory Kunde performing the final duet from Andrea Chénier.
Scarcity mindset
Michael Thalmeier‘s Tristan und Isolde in Berlin asks, how much minimalism is too much minimalism?
I’m still thinking about Hans Neuenfels’s Lohengrin
Who are the rats? Why are their tails getting longer? Is Lohengrin a rat trying to free himself from a maze?
By Rowna Sutin
Comment
Broadcast
Carmen / Metropolitan Opera
Isabel Leonard sings the title role in a live broadcast from New York
Streamed November 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Comment
Do the locomotion
As my friend and I Ubered out to the luxurious Cobb Energy Centre for Atlanta Opera’s La traviata, I had trains on the mind.
Everything is “and,” not “or”
James Gaffigan, the incoming Music Director of Houston Grand Opera, strikes a balance between New World precision and Old World flair in repertoire, staging, and wine
I’m still thinking about Bob Wilson’s Le trouvère
At every turn, the preconceived notion of Trovatore was denied, right down to the boxing during the ballet.
By Harry Rose
Comment
Broadcast
Falstaff / La Monnaie / De Munt
Simon Keenlyside sings the title role in a performance recorded last month in Brussels
Streamed November 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Comment
Damned to hell
Only the singers, led by Benjamin Bernheim, can salvage a dismal La Damnation de Faust at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées.
Animal house
Ursula Sturgeon looks at the furry opera company HowlAria and discovers that maybe one man’s Callas recording collection is another man’s fursuit.
I’m still thinking about David McVicar’s Giulio Cesare
With Cesare’s old-school rules of war set spinning by Cleopatra’s Bollywood-inspired manipulations, a Da Capo aria has never felt more dangerous
By Baritenor
Comment