Recent Stories
Wahn for a day
Die Meistersinger is a bold stroke of programming, in a not particularly exciting way.
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).
Half a million marks
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.
Roman candles
On this day in 1887 Victorien Sardou’s melodrama La Tosca premiered in Paris.
Maxed out
Might Max Emanuel Cencic be the countertenor for people who hate countertenors?
There never was a woman like Gilda
Has anyone ever seen a truly great production of La forza del destino?
Getting his Dukes in a row
>On this day in 1903, Enrico Caruso made his United States debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in Rigoletto.
La farsa del destino
There might be nothing in the world as joyous as a Rossini overture.
Dream a little dream
On this day in 1898, Mascagni’s Iris premiered in Rome.
Intruding in nudist parties in studios
On this day in 1620 the Plymouth Colony settlers signed the Mayflower Compact.
The Rebirthening
Though the soi-disant “NYCO Renaissance” has not yet actually set dates for, you know, performances, you will be happy to note that on November 30 you’ll have the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for the troupe—at a $250 top.
Something to do after brunch
La Cieca hears that Peter Gelb and representatives of the Met’s various unions (not pictured) have begun preliminary plans for adding regular Sunday performances to the company’s schedule.
Devil may care
On this day in 1901 Jules Massenet’s “conte lyrique” Grisélidis premiered at the Opéra-Comique.
Hast’ ein Stückerl Notenpapier?
This new production of Le nozze di Figaro by Stefan Herheim looks seriously fabulous.
Novecentonovantanove
Roberto De Biasio and Gwyn Hughes Jones will sing Pinkerton in the initial performances of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Met this spring.
To the Max
For the second time in two years, the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents a rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s best countertenors in concert.
Where have all the bubbles gone?
As a whole, the evening seemed forced and a bit dispiriting.
Eve of destruction
Mounting Verdi’s French grand operas in their original language is no longer as unusual as it once was.
Soft center
Born on this day in 1889 actor Clifton Webb.
Tell me about the rabbits
Our Own JJ confesses he just doted on Heartbreak Express, but “You Us We All was not my cup of twee.”
Humans of old Madrid
Bare Opera, the feisty little company that gave Debussy’s exquisite L’Enfant Prodigue in Chelsea last spring, is now operating in chic, rundown Bushwick where so many original enterprises sprout.
That trick never works
On this day in 1959 Rocky and His Friends debuted on ABC.