Parterre Box

With Gustavo Dudamel in the spotlight at Parterre Box this week, Grand Tier Grab Bag foreshadows one of the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming operatic engagements.

Parterre Box answers the question, “how can a singer do both Tristan and Nemorino within a few month of each other?” with a clip of a recent role debut from Michael Spyres.

Parterre Box features a performance from two belcantisti who would rather you not think about their political affiliations.

Parterre Box previews an upcoming performance of Hercules with Ann Hallenberg in some very unique Baroque repertoire.

Following the announcement that she’ll make her Met debut next season, Grand Tier Grab Bag brings Italian soprano Erika Grimaldi to your attention with a duet from Manon Lescaut.

Ahead of his performance in Les pêcheurs de perles with Washington Concert Opera, Parterre Box features the unusually elegant Anthony León performing Mozart.

This performance was introduced to me by Norman Treigle’s granddaughter —very fine mezzo-soprano Emily Treigle; while I was preparing the role of Olin Blitch, and it completely changed my understanding of the character.

The Met in HD proved to be a major gateway drug for me, showing me my first Don Carlo in 2010.

This bass aria “Sous les pieds d’une femme” from Gounod’s La Reine du Saba used to be a concert favorite

Tancredi Pasero is so noble in mien and rich-voiced here, a perfect complement to Caniglia’s earthy Leonora who honestly charts the movement from despair to fervent, transcendent faith in this duet.

I don’t know if I’ll ever hear as great a performance as René Pape‘s Gurnemanz.

Cesare Siepi and Giulio Neri give a reference rendition of the Grand Inquisitor scene.