Some filth or dementia from Mat Hal Some filth or dementia from Mat Hal

Who doesn’t love a slightly murky archival recording?

Turkish delight on a moonlit night Turkish delight on a moonlit night

While it may not be top-tier Rossini, Teatro Nuovo’s mounting of Il turco in Italia is still good summer fun.

Tabor-ing under no illusions Tabor-ing under no illusions

A grandly sung revival of The Ballad of Baby Doe at Central City Opera mines poignance from America’s past and present.

Rubber soul Rubber soul

Video Artists International brings us back to a time when opera was carried over the airwaves by great voices—and a tire company.

A favorite art song performance from Mister Snow A favorite art song performance from Mister Snow

Jessye Norman really embraces elements of the song falling somewhere between classical art song and popular ballad.

A favorite bass performance from TildyDiva A favorite bass performance from TildyDiva

The greatest bass performance I ever experienced was actually four – four performances in four roles.

The René Jacobs <em>Giulio Cesare</em> is so overrated The René Jacobs <em>Giulio Cesare</em> is so overrated

George Frideric Handel (born 341 years ago on Monday) composed over 40 operas including many masterpieces, but his Giulio Cesare is the one that everyone knows best.

Living the part Living the part

Diana Soviero chats with Roger Pines about six decades of performing, four decades of teaching, and how she’s handing the tradition off to the next generation.

Happy holidays from Mary Costa, Bing Crosby, and Robert Goulet Happy holidays from Mary Costa, Bing Crosby, and Robert Goulet

This month’s theme – “Opera singers celebrate the holidays” – conjured up a vast lexicon of memories of growing up in the 1960s and early 1970s.

The gaul of some people The gaul of some people

It’s Norma, darling. We know.

Masques et bergamasques Masques et bergamasques

John Yohalem wraps up Donizetti Month at parterre box with a look back at nearly six decades of Donizetti operagoing.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Angela Meade A favorite Donizetti performance from Angela Meade

For me, Donizetti’s operas are all about the mad scenes.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Leyla Gender-Bender A favorite Donizetti performance from Leyla Gender-Bender

I’m convinced that someone else will claim this Donizetti opera before I do, but Maria Stuarda is definitely my very favorite Donizetti opera.

A favorite Donizetti performance from James Grant A favorite Donizetti performance from James Grant

In 1972, when I was 12 years old, my mother took me to the Salzburg Festival.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Mr. Portafiori A favorite Donizetti performance from Mr. Portafiori

One of my favorite scenes from Donizetti is the Act I finale from Anna Bolena.

A favorite Donizetti performance from Lisette Oropesa 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!

Goddess in three persons Goddess in three persons

Patrick Mack looks back on “a great, nay, historic evening,” Renata Scotto‘s 1981 performance of Il trittico, now newly available on Met Opera on Demand.

Castanet diva Castanet diva

Lisette Oropesa, a product of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, has not been seen much on the stage of the Met in recent seasons.

All dolled up All dolled up

When my editor suggested to me a round-up of my favorite recordings of Jacques Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann I was très, très, intrigued.

Silver minings playbook Silver minings playbook

Some operas carry around the shadow of their most famous interpreters more than others.

Breaching the walls Breaching the walls

On this day in 1975 Rossini‘s Siege of Corinth had its American stage premiere at the Metropolitan Opera

Filth and dementia Filth and dementia

Zachary Woolfe reflects on the legacy of parterre box founder James Jorden and three decades of “remembering when opera was queer and dangerous and exciting and making it that way again”

Fly me to the moon Fly me to the moon

Lisette Oropesa has announced she will sing Norma “in the future.”

Pretty poison Pretty poison

The wicked poisoner showed herself in fine form, full of purple passion and lusty music-making that would gladden the heart of any bel canto enthusiast or opera lover in general.