Wie tönender Schall schlug’s an mein Ohr
It’s a busy summer for Vida Miknevičiūtė and Eric Cutler, the subjects of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Recent Stories
To the moon and back
Yuval Sharon‘s production of The Excursions of Mr. Brouček shoots for the moon — and lands somewhat limply on Lake Constance.
Bernard Herrmann was a great opera conductor
It is no wonder Bernard Herrmann relishes the wistful lyricism in Barber’s masterwork, as Herrmann’s score for Vertigo is among the most beautiful and haunting of all film scores ever composed.
By Darby Fegan
103 comments
Broadcast
Die Walküre / Bayreuth Festival
Christian Thielemann conducts Klaus Florian Vogt, Elza van den Heever, Camilla Nylund, and Michael Volle in a slightly delayed performance from Bayreuth
Streamed July 28, 2026 at 2:03 PM
125 comments
Broadcast
Das Rheingold / Bayreuth Festival
Christian Thielemann conducts a performance in slight delay from Bayreuth featuring Michael Volle, Jochen Schmeckenbacher, and Anna Kissjudit
Streamed July 27, 2026 at 2:03 PM
65 comments
Oops, I did it Onegin
Wolf Trap Opera presented a lovely Eugene Onegin with particularly noteworthy performances by Magdalena Kuźma and Daniel O’Hearn.
Lorenzo Molajoli was a great opera conductor
Lorenzo Molajoli is a mysterious figure.
Broadcast
Les Vêpres siciliennes / Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Daniele Rustioni conducts Karine Deshayes, John Osborn, Insik Choi, and Michele Pertusi in a performance recorded at this summer's Aix-en-Provence Festival.
Streamed July 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM
54 comments
Broadcast
Rienzi / Bayreuth Festival
Nathalie Stutzmann conducts a live performance of the first-ever Rienzi at Bayreuth
Streamed July 26, 2026 at 11:05 AM
135 comments
A barrel of laughs
Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer‘s bubbly The Judgement of Paris brings a distinctly Californian terroir to operatic comedy.
Broadcast
Beethoven No. 9 / Bayreuth Festival
The opening of the 2026 Festival season featuring Christian Thielemann leading Elza van den Heever, Christa Mayer, Piotr Beczala, and Georg Zeppenfeld in a slight delay from Bayreuth
Streamed July 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM
9 comments
Lili among thorns
Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman‘s Lili Elbe receives its first recording ahead of its stateside transition.
Maurice Abravanel was a great opera conductor
Based on exactly one recording, Maurice Abravanel is my favorite opera conductor.
By Remko Jas
45 comments
Broadcast
Falstaff / Gran Teatre del Liceu
Luca Salsi sings the title role for the first time in a performance recorded last week in Barcelona
Streamed July 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM
1 comment
Wedding from hell
Les Arts Florissants (lightly) stages two Charpentier rarities as a summer wedding gone wrong.
Ringing them in
Cher public is exhorted to join the Geplauder when the annual week of broadcasts from Bayreuth begins on Saturday
Riccardo Muti is a great opera conductor
I trust, fellow Parterre readers, that we can all agree that Riccardo Muti is a great opera conductor.
Broadcast
The Excursions of Mr. Brouček / Bregenz Festival
Robert Jindra conducts a live broadcast of Janáček's opera from the Bregenz Festival
Streamed July 23, 2026 at 1:30 PM
16 comments
Turkish delight on a moonlit night
While it may not be top-tier Rossini, Teatro Nuovo’s mounting of Il turco in Italia is still good summer fun.
John Barbirolli was a great opera conductor
Fifty some years ago I stumbled on to John Barbirolli‘s recording of matchless Elgar & V-Williams music for strings and discovered my go-to conductor for life.
By TC
33 comments
Noch mein’ ich mir selber so sicher zu sein
Elina Garanča’s aborted first Ariadne may have been the headline item at the Salzburg Festival next month, but this week Parterre Box features the Zerbinetta, Ziyi Dai.
Hell’s kitchen
Teatro Nuovo pays tribute to a historic New York production of Don Giovanni with a talented ensemble.
Broadcast
Mozart Requiem / Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Raphaël Pichon conducts Mélissa Petit, Beth Taylor, Duke Kim, and Alex Rosen in a performance recorded the week before last at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
Streamed July 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Comment
Mist opportunity
Lucia di Lammermoor at La Scala, starring Rosa Feola, proves as airless as this summer’s heatwaves.