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On this day in 1831 Vincenzo Bellini‘s La Sonnambula premiered in Milan.
Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat for this afternoon’s Met performance of Manon Lescaut, starting at 1:00 PM ET.
On this day in 1856 the second Royal Opera House Covent Garden theatre was destroyed by fire.
Here’s your place to chat, cher public, during tonight’s Met broadcast of Don Pasquale, beginning at 7:30 PM.
On this day in 1830 Vincenzo Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi premiered in Venice.
Anna Netrebko and Latonia Moore (pictured) rekindle “The Grand Opera Buzz.”
The operas of Saverio Mercadante are often said to be among those 19th century Italian works most worthy of revival.
Of all films to be adapted into operas, 1967’s Berserk! seems a most unlikely choice.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Irene
Grand Tier Grab Bag features the American Zwischenfach mezzo Irene Roberts ahead of an eclectic season of Wagner.
Grand Tier Grab Bag features the American Zwischenfach mezzo Irene Roberts ahead of an eclectic season of Wagner.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Poetic license
Poetic license
Parterre Box shines a light on Liparit Avetisyan, who made his Met debut as Alfredo earlier this spring.
Parterre Box shines a light on Liparit Avetisyan, who made his Met debut as Alfredo earlier this spring.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Frau Miina-Liisa will es werde Nacht
Frau Miina-Liisa will es werde Nacht
Parterre Box features soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä, making her title role debut in Die Walküre in Munich next week, in a performance of Tristan und Isolde from 2021.
Parterre Box features soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä, making her title role debut in Die Walküre in Munich next week, in a performance of Tristan und Isolde from 2021.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Lux aeterna luceat eis
Lux aeterna luceat eis
Grand Tier Grab Bag this week honors the late Limmie Pulliam with a bit of his Verdi Requiem.
Grand Tier Grab Bag this week honors the late Limmie Pulliam with a bit of his Verdi Requiem.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Kathryn the great
Kathryn the great
Parterre Box previews Kathryn Lewek‘s upcoming Salome with clips of her as another unhinged lady of antiquity.
Parterre Box previews Kathryn Lewek‘s upcoming Salome with clips of her as another unhinged lady of antiquity.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Count your blessings
Count your blessings
Fast-rising Verdi baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbataar is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Fast-rising Verdi baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbataar is the subject of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
On this day in 1875 Bizet’s Carmen had its disastrous premiere at the Opera Comique in Paris.
“Lyric’s November staging of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck is the only American contender in the new-production category, conducted by Lyric Music Director Sir Andrew Davis and directed by Sir David McVicar.”
On this day in 1965 The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, was released.
The most popular postings for the month follow the jump.
La Cieca and the whole gang down at parterre HQ would like to give a tip of the hat and a rousing Double Maxie Ford Pullback to our advertisers, who this month are a very numerous group indeed!
“No hitting? They got hitting! They got no defense!”
On this day in 1957 Ziegfeld Follies of 1957 opened at the Winter Garden, to run 123 performances.
Which queen wore it better, Rufus Wainwright or Sondra Radvanovsky?
Talk of the Town
The Talk of the Town
Herbert von Karajan was a great opera conductor
Herbert von Karajan was a great opera conductor
He has conducted some of my favorite opera recordings.
He has conducted some of my favorite opera recordings.
The Talk of the Town
Ernest Ansermet was a great opera conductor
Ernest Ansermet was a great opera conductor
Although Ernest Ansermet is most often associated with orchestral music, his 1964 recording of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is still my favorite.
Although Ernest Ansermet is most often associated with orchestral music, his 1964 recording of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is still my favorite.
The Talk of the Town
Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a great opera conductor
Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a great opera conductor
Historically, conductors were often viewed as rigid, authoritarian figures. Yannick Nézet-Séguin completely subverts this stereotype.
Historically, conductors were often viewed as rigid, authoritarian figures. Yannick Nézet-Séguin completely subverts this stereotype.
The Talk of the Town
Patrizia Ciofi should have made it to the Met
Patrizia Ciofi should have made it to the Met
The artist who I feel should have made it to the Met is Patrizia Ciofi.
The artist who I feel should have made it to the Met is Patrizia Ciofi.
The Talk of the Town
Giannina Arangi-Lombardi never made it to the Met
Giannina Arangi-Lombardi never made it to the Met
Giannina Arangi-Lombardi never sang at the Met.
Giannina Arangi-Lombardi never sang at the Met.
The Talk of the Town
Andrée Esposito and Alain Vanzo should have made it to the Met
Andrée Esposito and Alain Vanzo should have made it to the Met
This Mireille duet unites Andrée Esposito and Alain Vanzo and shows the timbral and stylistic qualities that made them exemplary.
This Mireille duet unites Andrée Esposito and Alain Vanzo and shows the timbral and stylistic qualities that made them exemplary.
It took the better part of a decade—including two high-profile cancelations—or New York to finally hear Anna Netrebko in recital.
We have a major discovery (well, to me at least) of a spectacular talent: American tenor Michael Spyres.
On this day in 1836 Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots opened in Paris.
“Revised version of Brokeback Mountain debuts in Salzburg”
On this day in 1862 Gounod’s La Reine de Saba premiered in Paris.
Just when La Cieca thought it was impossible to adore Anna Netrebko more, she has run across this photo on Facebook.
Here is where the parterriani gather to discuss the Met’s Saturday afternoon broadcast of Berg’s Lulu, beginning at 1:00 PM.
Happy 81st birthday soprano Mirella Freni.
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