Cask in the glory
A North American debut of a respectable French Baroque ensemble, an ebullient presentation of La fille du régiment, and an afternoon soiree in Wine Country proved to be the hottest (yet affordable!) tickets around here this Summer.
Recent Stories
La bohème
A performance recorded at The Santa Fe Opera earlier this summer
The Critic: Friend, Foe, or Finished?
Parterre Box critics Emma Hoffman and Max Keller and friend of the Box Emery Kerekes talk what’s next for classical music criticism with Ben Gambuzza of The Best is Noise
Thane and suffering
In the 1847 version of Macbeth, the forces of Teatro Nuovo lacked the thunderous punch this music can pack, but provided a pleasant ride
Die Walküre
A slightly delayed broadcast of the second installment of this year’s Ring from Bayreuth
Change my mind about Regietheater
Carmen Paddock and Mr. Portafiori aren’t getting the hype behind Ivo van Hove, Krzysztof Warlikowski, and Calitxo Bieito
Giulio Cesare in Egitto
A live broadcast from the Salzburg Festival
Change my mind about Vanessa
I know, as a musical gay boy d’un certain âge I supposed to consider this the great American opera, the equal if not superior to anything by Britten and preferable to any of that atonal garbage from the Continent.
By Brian Newhouse
60 comments
Das Rheingold
A live broadcast of the first installment of this summer’s Ring from Bayreuth
The gaul of some people
It’s Norma, darling. We know.
Norma demente
Jessica Pratt’s last-minute Norma in Milan might well be the stuff of legend
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
A live broadcast of the opening of the 2025 Bayreuth Festival
Change my mind about Der Rosenkavalier
I just don’t get Der Rosenkavalier except for the plum moments like The Presentation of the Rose and the Final Trio which for me satisfy my indulgent sweet tooth.
By Scott Grunow
115 comments
I’m never gonna dance again
A starry cast is hampered by Christof Loy‘s dour production of Rusalka in Barcelona
Nozze istriane
A performance of Antonio Smareglia‘s rare opera recorded last year in Croatia
Bryn da noise
Bryn Terfel‘s presence on an unfortunate broadcast of Tosca from Tanglewood last week prompts us at the Box to share clips of his work over the past few weeks
Gianni Schicchi and Cavalleria Rusticana
A live video broadcast from the Verbier festival starring Bryn Terfel and Ying Fang
Change my mind about how Orfeo should end
By giving Orfeo ed Euridice a happy ending, Gluck ruined a wonderful score.
By John Yohalem
131 comments
Les pêcheurs de perles
Marc Minkowski conducts a performance recorded last week at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
Mad about Mitridate
Suddenly Mozart’s rare early opera Mitridate, re di Ponto has become popular. Anticipating a Salzburg Festival performance on 4 August, Chris’s Cache offers two recent broadcasts, one from Boston, the other from Montpellier.
Change my mind about Ermonela Jaho
Yes, Ermonela Jaho is a compelling swooner. But is she a great singer? I have yet to be convinced!
By Ben Miller
62 comments
Sleepwalkers awake
La sonnambula at Teatro Nuovo overcomes uneven casting to highlight the many charms of Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece
Visible storage
Performances of Pittori fiamminghi and Madama Butterfly in picturesque Castell’Arquato were a fine way to honor Luigi Illica, the city’s native son
The Nine Jewelled Deer
A new opera by Sivan Eldar and Ganavya Doraiswami from the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence