Recent Stories
“Joyce DiDonato and Rufus Wainwright will discuss a variety of topics…”
“Trove Thursday” returns with an unbeatable combination: Janet Baker and Handel.
On this day in 1993, the first issue of parterre box, the queer opera zine was published.
Count on the New York Times to include in a photo caption all the information you really wanted to know.
Since its founding 20 years ago, Washington, DC-based Opera Lafayette has devoted its considerable imagination and energy to reviving lesser-known 17th and 18th century French operas.
A readers’ discussion of Gaetano Donizetti garnered the most pageviews of any parterre posting in November.
On this day in 1840 Gaetano Donizetti’s opera La Favorite premiered at the Académie Royale de Musique in Paris.
La Cieca invites you, the cher public, to give a round of applause to our beloved sponsors for the month of December.
Grand Tier Grab Bag
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1968, the musical Promises Promises opened at the Shubert Theater, to run 1,281 performances.
If only there were a way to make the onerous (yet necessary) task of holiday shopping just a bit easier!
A while back, there was a great outcry for some Meyerbeer…
On this day in 1955, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Pipe Dream, starring Helen Traubel as the proprietress of a small-town brothel, opened at Shubert Theater to run 245 performances.
Born on this day in 1797 composer Gaetano Donizetti.
Rufus (Prima Donna) Wainwright sinks his teeth into a little Mascagni, partnered by a very game Sarah Fox.
Emilio Sagi’s production of The Barber of Seville is ungepotchket in the flesh.
Born on this day in 1881 Austrian author Stefan Zweig,
Talk of the Town
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ebe Stignani and Anita Cerquetti should have made it to the Met
Subtlety is for cowards, say the blazing Anita Cerquetti and the blaring Ebe Stignani.
Subtlety is for cowards, say the blazing Anita Cerquetti and the blaring Ebe Stignani.
Born on this day in 1903 Broadway impresario David Merrick.
Congratulations to Leitbreite, whose cunning ears identified all but one of the singers in last week’s “Orpheus” quiz.
Happy Thanksgiving U.S. Paterrians!
Die Meistersinger is a bold stroke of programming, in a not particularly exciting way.
Unlike my friend Greg Freed, who entertainingly wrote of his ambivalence about seeing Il trovatore in a movie theater this season, I have embraced the Met Live in HD transmissions as a part of the modern operagoing experience.
On this day in 1887 Victorien Sardou’s melodrama La Tosca premiered in Paris.
Might Max Emanuel Cencic be the countertenor for people who hate countertenors?
Has anyone ever seen a truly great production of La forza del destino?
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