Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici

cher public is reminded one final time to contribute to our new regular feature before it launches on Wednesday

Audiences expect miracles Audiences expect miracles

Following a review by Christopher Corwin, figures from in and around the box react to Pablo Larraín‘s new film Maria

Un giorno rendimi de’ miei primi anni Un giorno rendimi de’ miei primi anni

On this day in 1830 Donizetti‘s Anna Bolena premiered in Milan

The promise of ages The promise of ages

Merry Christmas and happy first night of Chanukah, Parterrians!

Quand sur la plage Quand sur la plage

What can you say, other than that everything was fab?

Have you seen a child? Have you seen a child?

On this night in 1951 Menotti‘s Amahl and the Night Visitors premiered on television

Singing from our chains Singing from our chains

There are two problems to address – problems of the sort the arts thrive on addressing.

I want candy I want candy

On this day in 1893 Humperdinck‘s Hansel und Gretel premiered in Weimar

Ecco l’artista! Ecco l’artista!

Born on this day in 1858 composer Giacomo Puccini

The Magic Flute The Magic Flute

A live broadcast from New York

Les Contes d’Hoffmann Les Contes d’Hoffmann

A performance starring Juan Diego Flórez recorded earlier this fall in London

You can’t keep a good girl down You can’t keep a good girl down

On this day in 1921 Jerome Kern’s Sally produced by Ziegfeld on Broadway

Birds, bears, and based boyfriends Birds, bears, and based boyfriends

While the Met’s Mozart-lite holiday production of The Magic Flute kept the eyes entertained with spectacular sets and costumes, the scattershot casting and lack of musical seriousness dragged down this opera for beginners.

New kids from the bloc New kids from the bloc

If song recitals by opera stars Piotr Beczala and Asmik Grigorian sometimes came up short, Semyon Bychkov’s powerful rendition of the Glagolitic Mass instantly became one of the year’s highlights.

Boat against the tide Boat against the tide

Happy 86th birthday composer John Harbison

Ethiopian blends Ethiopian blends

Anticipating the first new local Aïda in thirty-six years, Chris’s Cache revisits Verdi’s popular opera in four unusually interesting in-house recordings from the Met 1961-1976.

Peu m’importe si tu m’aimes Peu m’importe si tu m’aimes

Born on this day in 1915 singer Edith Piaf

The Magic Flute The Magic Flute

A live broadcast from New York

Anna Caterina Antonacci Anna Caterina Antonacci

An intriguing recital program live from Rome with Donald Sulzen

Let’s get metaphysical Let’s get metaphysical

Last Thursday evening, pure virtuosity was on display at the Veterans’ Room of the Park Avenue Armory, courtesy of soprano Barbara Hannigan and pianist Bertrand Chamayou.

Streich the harp and join the chorus Streich the harp and join the chorus

Born on this day in 1920 soprano Rita Streich with music for the holidays

El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered

A performance recorded earlier this month in Munich of American Modern Opera Company’s take on John Adams‘s oratorio

Seek to set him right Seek to set him right

It was, at least, a jolly good show. Whether or not it actually suited Stravinsky’s music or Auden and Kallman’s text, is another question.

Abendsterne Abendsterne

Georg Solti made his Met debut conducting Tannhaüser on this date in 1960.