Aix tremendae, salva me Aix tremendae, salva me

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence confronts the living and the dead — and its own future — through audacious productions and an intimate world premiere.

In my end is my beginning In my end is my beginning

Die Walküre heralds the end of an era for the Los Angeles Philharmonic — and the arrival of a new generation of Wagnerians.

Erste Brautnacht Erste Brautnacht

Nearly three years after the premiere of François Girard’s Lohengrin at the Met, Parterre Box looks back at the production with a duet from Piotr Beczala and Elena Stikhina.

To our glorious dead To our glorious dead

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offered a rending reading of Britten‘s massive War Requiem with an eclectic trio of soloists.

Le nozze di Picasso Le nozze di Picasso

Wolf Trap Opera kicked off its summer season with an inventive production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro inspired by Pablo Picasso that showcased up-and-coming singers.

Not a Marietta Not a Marietta

We are a nostalgic sort, we opera lovers. Fortunately, Korngold’s Die tote Stadt, which arrived in concert form to Boston’s Symphony Hall last weekend, is all about nostalgia.

Die tote Stadt

Korngold‘s opera in a live broadcast from Boston

Next to godliness Next to godliness

Washington National Opera rounded out its season opening weekend with a one-night-only performance entitled “Gods & Mortals: A Celebration of Wagner” the evening after the premiere of its new production of Fidelio.

Here a Leigh, there a Leigh Here a Leigh, there a Leigh

Judith Malafronte sits down with bass David Leigh who debuts as Rocco in Washington National Opera’s production of Fidelio next week

Veni vidi vici Veni vidi vici

Mahler’s 8th Symphony is an enormous and enigmatic work.

We’re the kids in America We’re the kids in America

Needing a Mozart palate-cleanser after the recent misbegotten Marriage of Figaro, I went back more than two decades for a Houston Così fan Tutte featuring then-rising Americans Christine Goerke, Joyce Di Donato, Richard Croft, and Nathan Gunn as the confused lovers.

Pansexual relations Pansexual relations

Love makes fools of us all – that seems to be the theme of this summer’s Glimmerglass Festival.

Decadent genealogies Decadent genealogies

Arnold Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder and Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot are, in their different ways, the final decadent flowering of a musical tradition at its twilight.

London calling London calling

I watched the finals for this year’s George and Nora London Foundation competition and would like to offer, if not a traditional review, a brief roundup of who I found exceptionally watchable and whom I think you, dear parterre boxers, should watch out for in the next few years.

That with music loud and long That with music loud and long

The flashing eyes, the floating hair, and the inexplicable barefootnedness during the second half of Saturday night’s performance confirmed one thing: Kristine Opolais is back.

A hole new world A hole new world

Here’s an update for those keeping up with the Lohengrin casting sweepstakes at the Met.

It might as well be Einspring It might as well be Einspring

I can’t imagine anything more anxiety-inducing than being put in at last-minute to sing a role in a high-profile production at the Met.

A whiter shade of grail A whiter shade of grail

It seems that François Girard has been watching a little too much Star Wars lately. His new production of Lohengrin, which opened at the Metropolitan Opera Sunday afternoon, reduced Wagner’s opera to a knockoff space opera, full of hackneyed sci-fi tropes and B-rated futurist apologue.

Pragmatism and ideology Pragmatism and ideology

It doesn’t get more classic than John Dexter‘s Dialogues des Carmélites.

Back to the future Back to the future

After putting a hiatus on their awards in 2020 and 2021 (for reasons that are all too well-known to all of us), the Richard Tucker Foundation Gala returned on Sunday evening November 13 honoring soprano Angel Blue the 2022 Award winner.

Last dance Last dance

If it is true that there are few respectable ways for people over 40 without small children to celebrate Halloween, a performance of Richard Strauss’ pioneering horror opera Elektra belongs on the short list.

Consistently enthralling Consistently enthralling

To conclude its triumphant season, last week the Met Orchestra performed its annual Carnegie Hall concerts under music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and once again performed superbly.

Twisted sisters Twisted sisters

Nina Stemme’s Elektra always seemed the sanest individual onstage never quite giving over to obsession or hysteria with a good line in mordant sarcasm and contempt.

Hopelessly human Hopelessly human

The Boston Symphony and Alban Berg’s “Wir arme Leut” spread musical riches at Carnegie Hall.