Ceaseless mugging Ceaseless mugging

The phrase “immersive Coffee Cantata experience” evokes being dipped into a giant, boiling vat of java.

Let the more loving one be me Let the more loving one be me

Born on this day in 1907 librettist and poet W. H. Auden

San Francisco Opera 2024-25 San Francisco Opera 2024-25

The first of the major American opera houses to announce its 2024-25 season did so today

Being beauteous Being beauteous

With its sumptuous wood paneling, frescoed ceilings, and various Gilded Age trappings, the Park Avenue Armory’sBoard of Officers Room certainly is not a bad place to spend Valentine’s Day—even better when it plays host to equally sumptuous music-making.

French dip French dip

On this day the Metropolitan Opera premiered triple bill of Satie‘s Parade, and Poulenc‘s Les Mamelles de Tirésias and Ravel‘s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges

Thoughts on <em>La Forza del destino</em>: recordings Thoughts on <em>La Forza del destino</em>: recordings

As said at the beginning, I implied I’d rather see Don Carlo(s) and listen to Forza.

È dolce cosa vivere obliando È dolce cosa vivere obliando

On this day in 1914 Zandonai‘s Francesca da Rimini premiered in Turin

Omar Omar

Jamez McCorkle, Cierra Byrd, Daniel Okulitch, Brianna J. Robinson, and
Neal Ferreira
in a broadcast of Rhiannon Giddens’s and Michael Abels’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera from Boston last spring

Il trovatore Il trovatore

Roberto Aronica, Lucas Meachem, Marta Torbidoni, Chiara Mogini, and Gianluca Buratto in a live broadcast from Bologna conducted by Renato Palumbo

Guts and Gorr Guts and Gorr

Born on this day in 1926 mezzo-soprano Rita Gorr

Un ballo in maschera Un ballo in maschera

A broadcast from fall 2023 featuring Charles Castronovo, Angela Meade, Quinn Kelsey, Liv Redpath, and Olesya Petrova conducted by Carlo Rizzi

Uphill both ways Uphill both ways

On this day in 1904 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its disastrous premiere in Milan

Thoughts on <em>La Forza del destino</em>: characters Thoughts on <em>La Forza del destino</em>: characters

It is a measure of Verdi’s genius that throughout the four rambling acts, his musical invention in the service of creating characters never failed him.

Video: Celebrating James Jorden Video: Celebrating James Jorden

The parterre team is glad to make available a professionally produced recording of the February 3rd memorial held in honor of parterre box founder James Jorden

King of <em>Versailles</em> King of <em>Versailles</em>

Happy 86th birthday composer John Corigliano

Donna Anna and the Dynamos Donna Anna and the Dynamos

The new Opera News section of OPERA magazine already seems to be getting smaller, but the March issue features a long interview with Carol Vaness about Donna Anna.

The whole world was listening The whole world was listening

Happy 77th birthday composer John Adams

Park and “Bark” Park and “Bark”

Taylor Mac isn’t known for being short-winded.

Social insecurity Social insecurity

Happy 65th birthday soprano Renée Fleming

A three-hour tour A three-hour tour

We may all be armchair Handelians, but some of us are more used to it than others.

Glorifying the American girl Glorifying the American girl

Happy 55th birthday mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato

Opening doors Opening doors

Real estate is hot along the Acela corridor right now: as proof, Judith will have toured at least three castles in New York and Boston between this spring and last.

Thoughts on <em>La Forza del destino</em>: versions Thoughts on <em>La Forza del destino</em>: versions

Following the composition of Un ballo in maschera, Verdi had gone into a self-imposed retirement, at least musically; he had not composed a note in four years.

Pomp and circumstance Pomp and circumstance

Born on this day in 1923 director and designer Franco Zeffirelli