Recent Stories
Povera Butterfly
A parade of young singers delight in an intimate Madama Butterfly at Amore Opera
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).
Sorrowful mystery
As tenor Pene Pati continues his Rodolfo-across-America tour, parterre box presents a snippet of his role debut as Werther from earlier this year.
A favorite Donizetti performance from Mr. Portafiori
One of my favorite scenes from Donizetti is the Act I finale from Anna Bolena.
By Mr. Portafiori
144 comments
Sick and tired
Before this weekend, I never thought I would want to leave an opera by Act I. The recent production of Puccini’s La bohème at the Lyric Opera of Chicago taught me that there’s a first time for everything.
T’amo ancora qual t’amava in basso stato
As this is “Donizetti Month” here on parterre box, Chris’s Cache offers the recently deceased Paul Plishka and Opera Orchestra of New York with Carol Vaness in Anna Bolena and with Mariella Devia in the rarely heard Adelia.
A favorite Donizetti performance from Last Castrato
La Favorita is my favorita. Whether it’s Favorita or Favorite, I love them both.
By Last Castrato
117 comments
Opera Philadelphia 2025-26
Opera Philadelphia announced today its 50th Anniversary 2025-2026 season, the second under the leadership of Anthony Roth Costanzo, but the first to bear his distinctive imprint.
Monsoon wedding
IN Series concluded its exploration of the works of Claudio Monteverdi with a production of the composer’s final opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea, performed with the addition of Indian music and dance.
Selvaggia e aspra e forte
Pascal Dusapin‘s dynamic and demanding traversal of Dante‘s Commedia arrives at the Paris Opera
A favorite Donizetti performance from Darby Fegan
Fiorenza Cossotto in her prime had few equals, particularly in the Italian repertoire
By Darby Fegan
89 comments
Born to command
Audacious star performances elevate safe direction in Richard II and The Seagull on London’s West End
Nel puzzo nel giardino
A new opera company in Hell’s Kitchen is preparing for its first performances of Tosca – and it’s putting the experience of chronic illness front and center.
By Harry Rose and Emma Hoffman
19 comments
A favorite Donizetti performance from Lisette Oropesa
Donizetti wrote so much great music, it’s hard to single out a favorite opera, or even a preferred aria!
By Lisette Oropesa
144 comments
More people should listen to Corinne Winters
After her Mimìs in the springtime Bohème, she will perhaps be less under the radar here.
By Camille
127 comments
More people should listen to Ida Miccolis
Ida Miccolis (1920-2005), Brazilian soprano, never or rarely sang outside Brazil.
By Eli Jacobson
41 comments
L’opera seria
Florian Leopold Gassmann‘s rare comedy live from Milan
Moby-Dick
Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer‘s whale of an opera live from New York
More people should listen to Lella Cuberli
One of the great Rossini sopranos of the 1980s and sadly under-recorded in that rep.
By PCally
79 comments
Mañana por la mañana
One might be surprised to not see the blusteringly charismatic Saioa Hernández mentioned amidst the litany of favorite under-appreciated sopranos. Then one hears what she’s been up to lately.
This magic moment
Look, for one of the most-staged operas in the repertoire, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte seems awfully difficult to stage.