Bel canto snarl for bel canto snarl
Rising stars Chelsea Lehnea and Ricardo José Rivera are the protagonists of this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag.
Recent Stories
Some filth or dementia from Mat Hal
Who doesn’t love a slightly murky archival recording?
By Mat Hal
62 comments
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).
Broadcast
Saint Francois d’Assise / Salzburg Festival
Maxime Pascal conducts a live performance of Messaien's opera from Salzburg with Philippe Sly in the title role
Streamed August 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM
32 comments
The juice is on the loose
The bonkers, bewildering Die ägyptische Helena begets a suitably lush musical and creative treatment at Bard SummerScape.
Broadcast
Madama Butterfly / Santa Fe Opera
Karen Chia-ling Ho and Stephen Costello lead a performace recorded at The Santa Fe Opera last month
Streamed August 3, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Comment
Because I’m not one of your FANS!
Just in time for this month’s theme of filth or dementia, a review of Terrence McNally‘s Master Class from Central City Opera.
Some filth or dementia from Peter Russell
Ma che brutta figura per la lirica!
By Peter Russell
60 comments
Broadcast
Ariadne auf Naxos / Salzburg Festival
Manfred Honeck conducts Kate Lindsey, Christina Nilsson, Eric Cutler, and Ziyi Dai in a live broadcast from Salzburg
Streamed August 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
126 comments
Sealing the deal
The Bayerische Staatsoper’s summer festival wound down with Lotte de Beer’s darkly effective production of Gounod ’sFaust.
Some filth or dementia from Mister Snow
I sort of have a love/hate fascination with countertenors/male falsettists.
By Mister Snow
66 comments
Broadcast
Götterdämmerung / Bayreuth Festival
Christian Thielemann conducts Klaus Florian Vogt, Camilla Nylund, and Jochen Schmeckenbacher in a slightly delayed performance from Bayreuth
Streamed August 1, 2026 at 2:03 PM
228 comments
Some filth or dementia from Myra Norman
Karina Gauvin slays for the slayed. Werk Bitch.
By Myra Norman
30 comments
Broadcast
Siegfried / Bayreuth Festival
Christian Thielemann conducts Klaus Florian Vogt, Camilla Nylund, and Michael Volle in a slightly delayed performance from Bayreuth
Streamed July 30, 2026 at 2:03 PM
46 comments
Zubin Mehta is a great opera conductor
Zubin Mehta was a major part of musical life when I moved to Southern California in 1969, having started his tenure as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
By Mister Snow
110 comments
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.
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