Manon Manon

Now, Massenet‘s adaptation, live from Turin

It’s Brittany, bitch It’s Brittany, bitch

Sparks flew when the San Francisco Opera opened their new production of Richard Wagner’s monumental Tristan und Isolde on Saturday, October 19th, at the War Memorial Opera House.

Page to stage Page to stage

Born on this day in 1926 soprano Galina Vishnevskaya

Manon Lescaut Manon Lescaut

Not that one, the other one! Daniel Auber‘s opera in a live broadcast as part of Turin’s Manon-Manon-Manon triptych

Basque in the glory Basque in the glory

For the opening night of Il Trovatore, Houston Grand Opera’s new production aimed high, bringing together a star-studded cast and a fresh, contemporary take on Verdi’s intense drama.

Everything beautiful happens at night Everything beautiful happens at night

Happy 69th birthday soprano Cheryl Studer

Don’t count out the Countess Don’t count out the Countess

In concert with Renée Fleming’s quietly authoritative stage presence, the performance offered frequent reminders of the special affinity between this singer and Strauss’s aristocratic women.

Telephone girly Telephone girly

Born on this day in 1921 soprano Denise Duval

Ainadamar Ainadamar

Miguel Harth-Bedoya leads Angel Blue, Elena Villalón, Daniela Mack, and Alfredo Tejada in Osvaldo Golijov and David Henry Hwang‘s opera

E la Raina vede il cavalier E la Raina vede il cavalier

Inspired by Harry Rose’s recent fine polemic about verismo performance practice, Chris’s Cache offers one of Opera Orchestra of New York’s most exciting evenings: Zandonai’s Francesda da Rimini from 1973 with Raina Kabaivanska, Placido Domingo, and Matteo Manuguerra.

Boxing day Boxing day

On this day in 1883 the Metropolitan Opera House opened with Gounod‘s Faust.

Tosca Tosca

Daniel Harding conducts Eleonora Burrato, Jonathan Tetelman, and Ludovic Tézier live from the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in this most Roman of operas

Unnecessary performance problems Unnecessary performance problems

Patrick Mack on the iconic Ethan Mordden‘s career and his first book on opera in 30 years – and it appears that time has mostly stopped in the Mordden manse.

Hungarian rhapsode Hungarian rhapsode

Born on this day in 1912 conductor Georg Solti

I am in mourning for my life I am in mourning for my life

Happy 79th birthday composer Thomas Pasatieri

Giulio Cesare Giulio Cesare

A performance recorded last fall at the Rome Opera

Fin de Partie Fin de Partie

György Kurtág‘s only opera live from the Wiener Staatsoper

Clean and clear Clean and clear

Happy 90h birthday soprano Benita Valente

Les Contes d’Hoffmann Les Contes d’Hoffmann

Marco Armiliato conducts Benjamin Bernheim, Erin Morley, Pretty Yende, Clémentine Margaine, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya, and Christian Van Horn in a live broadcast from New York

Thoughts on <em>Il trovatore</em>: the opera Thoughts on <em>Il trovatore</em>: the opera

When asked to express some “thoughts” here about Verdi’s Il trovatore, my immediate thought was “hmm… not a lot to think about there.”

Feminine Weills Feminine Weills

Born on this day in 1898 actress and singer Lotte Lenya

Spain and neutered Spain and neutered

Ainadamar never quite found its identity between the two poles of conceptual and concrete.

Witchery and bitchery Witchery and bitchery

Double double, toil and trouble, y’all, and happy spooky season from Slaylem. (It’s like Salem, but fun.)

Campo-town lady Campo-town lady

On this day in 1991 soprano Deborah Voigt made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amelia