Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns
San Diego Opera’s Pagliacci puts a play within a play within a play.
Recent Stories
Broadcast
Armida / Haydneum Festival
Vasilisa Berzhanskaya sings the title role in Haydn's opera recorded at the Haydneum Festival in August
Streamed November 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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).
“An opportunity to deliver”
Daniele Rustioni, who starts his tenure as Met Principal Guest Conductor with Don Giovanni this week, might just be the opera conductor we’ve all been waiting for — and he’s betting on a long haul.
I’m still thinking about John Cox’s The Rake’s Progress
I came to The Rake’s Progress with a huge “Show Me” chip on my shoulder.
By Peter Russell
Comment
Broadcast
Pelléas et Mélisande / Wiener Staatsoper
Rolando Villazón, Simon Keenlyside, and Kate Lindsey star in a live broadcast from Vienna
Streamed November 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Comment
I’m still thinking about Lotte De Beer’s Aïda
Lotte De Beer‘s astonishing reading of Aïda at the Paris Opera was a victim both of Covid and the culture wars.
By Ben Miller
Comment
Broadcast
Les vêpres siciliennes / Royal Ballet and Opera
Speranza Scappucci leads a performance of Verdi's opera recorded last month in London
Streamed November 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Broadcast
Otello / Teatro Real
Brian Jagde, Gabriele Viviani, and Asmik Grigorian lead a performance recorded last month in Madrid
Streamed November 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Comment
I’m still thinking about Stefan Herheim’s La bohème
Death is the prima donna in this opera, and Herheim doesn’t let you forget it.
By Leyla Gender-Bender
Comment
Streamed October 31, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Comment
Grail against the machine
A new production of Parsifal at San Francisco Opera stirred something deep inside Michael Anthonio about how music soothes the soul
Nothing makes me feel better than the Von Karajan Trovatore
For me, one of the greatest recordings is the Von Karajan Il trovatore. You have four incredible singers in their top form.
By Mr.Portafiori
Comment
Frieze frame
Shirin Neshat‘s Aïda in Paris is a typical instance of what happens when an artist is brought in to direct an opera.
In the beginning
In Jacopo Peri’s seminal Euridice, the Newberry Consort and Haymarket Opera made a compelling case for putting you in the room where it happened.
Nothing makes me feel better than Lohengrin
I take such comfort in the assumption that someone or something will save us from injustice and the lust for power.
By Scott Grunow
Comment
Polar opposites
Grand Tier Grab Bag offers a face off of two Polish divas from Aleksandra Kurzak‘s debut performances as Aïda in Verona this summer.
Nothing makes me feel better than Falstaff
It’s such a joyous score, full of Italian warmth and humanity. Verdi’s late-stage, evergreen score is a constant source of joy.
By Gregory B. Mowery
Comment
Broadcast
Carmen / Metropolitan Opera
Isabel Leonard and Michael Fabiano lead a live broadcast from New York
Streamed October 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Comment
The emperor’s new groove
A new recording of Boito‘s Nerone from Cagliari shows off an epic opera with fire and flamboyance
Nothing makes me feel better than Così fan tutte
I have been utterly fascinated by the wildly intriguing choices of “comfort operas” these past few days. For me, Così fan tutte is my absolute first choice.
By TildyDiva
Comment
Broadcast
Die Walküre / Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Daniel Harding conducts a live performance from Rome featuring Jamez McCorkle, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Miina-Liisa Värelä, and Michael Volle
Streamed October 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Comment
Vigorous to rigorous
Dmitry Matvienko led a performance of Mussorgsky and Shostakovich at La Monnaie with meticulous rectitude.
Nothing makes me feel better than Theodora
This is not exactly a comfort “opera” as it is from Handel’s late oratorio Theodora which is sometimes staged as an opera.
By grimoaldo2
Comment