The father of us all The father of us all

Baptized on this day in 1567 composer Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi

Dagonistic pluralism Dagonistic pluralism

To bring a well-known story to the stage, many methods are available.

Considerate la vostra semenza Considerate la vostra semenza

Born on this day in 1957 soprano Daniela Dessì

Carmen, domesticated Carmen, domesticated

On May 2, Rebecca Herman‘s conceptualizing of Carmen was a significant departure from the traditional depiction of a marginalized “other,” maintaining a traditional staging in Seville.

With a sound but half its own With a sound but half its own

Swiss soprano Regula Mühlemann made her New York recital debut at Weill Hall on May 8.

Utopia, limited Utopia, limited

Born on this day in 1842 composer Arthur Sullivan

It’s raining on prom night It’s raining on prom night

On this day in 1988 Carrie-The Musical opened on Broadway and closed after 5 performances

Madama Butterfly Madama Butterfly

Asmik Grigorian, as Cio Cio San, along with Jonathan Tetelman, Lucas Meachem, and Elizabeth DeShong are conducted by Xian Zhang in a broadcast from New York

Stemmediva Stemmediva

Happy 61st birthday soprano Nina Stemme

The Hours The Hours

Kensho Watanabe leads Renée Fleming, Kelli O’Hara, Joyce DiDonato, and Sean Panikkar in a broadcast from New York

Hilley terrain Hilley terrain

Heldentenor Clay Hilley is the winner of the 2024 Richard Tucker Award

Fox on fox Fox on fox

The Cunning Little Vixen, Leos Janacek’s late-career opera—a wonderous work with an almost miraculous sense of charm and poignance—has found significant success in conservatories.

Come to the record store in old Peking Come to the record store in old Peking

In the lead up to LA Opera’s mounting of Turandot on May 18th (hooray!) I thought I’d touch on some of my favorite recordings and new re-masters I’ve discovered. I have them all.

Broad stripes and bright stars Broad stripes and bright stars

On this day in 1937 Stars Spangled Banner soprano Lucy Monroe made her only Metropolitan Opera performance as Musetta

S’ouvre à sa voix S’ouvre à sa voix

Per Instagram, Anita Rachvelishvili made an appearance at a Europe Day concert in Tblisi earlier today

If you could see it through my eyes If you could see it through my eyes

Each successive version pushed the envelope further… and was less effective.

In a very unusual way In a very unusual way

Happy 68th birthday mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter

Je sens une force nouvelle Je sens une force nouvelle

Chris’s Cache offers three striking interpretations of another Gluck masterpiece Alceste from Janet Baker, Anna Caterina Antonacci, and Véronique Gens

Shiny happy people Shiny happy people

Happy 77th birthday soprano Felicity Lott

Raunchy, wild, and winsome Raunchy, wild, and winsome

There was much to love in Andrew Ousley’s Tiergarten: a three-night cabaret revue from Death of Classical and part of Carnegie Hall’s Weimar Festival, performed in the vaulted gothic hall of the Church of St. Mary.

Women of the <em>Hours</em> Women of the <em>Hours</em>

In its first go-around in November 2022, Kevin Puts’s The Hours (libretto by Greg Pierce based on the novel by Michael Cunningham and the screenplay for the Stephen Daldry’s 2002 film was a box office bullseye for the Metropolitan Opera.

Uptown world Uptown world

On this day in 2017 the Metropolitan Opera celebrated 50 years at Lincoln Center

AAPI Heritage with the Metropolitan Opera AAPI Heritage with the Metropolitan Opera

An concert and discussion celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month presented by WQXR and featuring performances by Siman Chung, Yi Li, Ying Fang, and pianist Katelan Tran Terrell, as well as conversation with Debra Lew Harder, Huang Ruo, and Mimi Lien

Top brass Top brass

Culture at the Crossroads: Zlatne Uste Golden Festival lives on at Astoria World Manor