Some filth or dementia from Mister Snow Some filth or dementia from Mister Snow

I sort of have a love/hate fascination with countertenors/male falsettists.

Hear, O Israel Hear, O Israel

As Messiah season begins, Christopher Corwin reports on two of Handel’s forays into the Old Testament.

My soul is eager for this kind of pain My soul is eager for this kind of pain

Ross Wassermann tracks the development of “Che farò senza Euridice?” — and “J’ai perdu mon Eurydice” — for this month’s Perspectives on an Aria

Master of monumentality Master of monumentality

On this day in 1987 the Met raised the curtain on Franco Zeffirelli‘s production of Turandot.

Sacred raptures cheer my breast Sacred raptures cheer my breast

The English Concert’s annual Handel tour brings Solomon conducted by Harry Bicket to the US beginning Sunday March 5. In anticipation, Chris’s Cache offers Solomon plus four other oratorios by the master:  Belshazzar, Hercules, Saul and Jephtha, all via broadcasts for which I feel a personal connection.

Seria effect Seria effect

While it must be admitted that Elza van den Heever doesn’t have an ideally warm and agile Handel voice, she evidenced fierce control over her instrument and skillfully built a powerful portrait of the courageous Rodelida fighting for her survival.

A place in the shade A place in the shade

Next Wednesday is the composer’s 337th birthday, so Trove Thursday previews this spring’s most enticing Handel performance with two very different live versions of his delightful Serse,.

Gianna Rolandi 1952-2021 Gianna Rolandi 1952-2021

American soprano Gianna Rolandi died Sunday morning, according to a number of her friends and colleagues. She was 68.

Roman holiday Roman holiday

A brace of Handel operas at the George Enescu International Festival.

Pilot program Pilot program

Once again we got a very frustrating performance of Orlando; this time a beautiful and completely coherent production marred by some sub-optimal singing.

Boy meets world Boy meets world

A beautiful concert of 18th century sacred music arrived at Weill Recital Hall performed by the soulful Polish Wunderkind Jakub Jósef Orlinski.

Why parterre box is not going to cover the David Daniels / Scott Walters arrest Why parterre box is not going to cover the David Daniels / Scott Walters arrest

The arrest of an important gay opera star and his husband on a serious criminal charge is undoubtedly news and almost certain to be interest to regular readers of parterre box.

Perfect stranger Perfect stranger

Christophe Dumaux quickly slipped in and out of town this weekend to sing Handel and Vivaldi in a marvelous gala concert with the Sejong Soloists at Zankel Hall.

Crepuscolo Crepuscolo

“It’s not easy being green”: especially if you’re the two greatest Italian opera composers.

Rome if you want to without anything but the love we feel Rome if you want to without anything but the love we feel

“Trove Thursday” marks Monteverdi’s 450th birthday with a rare broadcast of his towering final work L’Incoronazione di Poppea.

You were dead, you know You were dead, you know

Lyric Opera of Chicago opened its 2017-18 season on Saturday evening with a new production of Gluck’s Orphee et Eurydice in the 1774 Paris version.

Fifty shades of gold Fifty shades of gold

Anticipation of events like the Metropolitan Opera’s 50th Anniversary bash turns me back into the newly opera-soused kid who begged his parents to let him watch the highlights of the Bing Gala on the family color television.

Hell and back Hell and back

A simply gorgeous performance of Gluck’s Orphée et Euridice starring Juan Diego Flórez. 

Home brew Home brew

An extraordinarily rich variety of opera happens locally, under the umbrella of New York Opera Fest.

Blackberry winner Blackberry winner

Washingtonians enjoyed a happy reunion this past Sunday with David Daniels.

Martyr system Martyr system

William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants made a much-anticipated appearance at Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival Saturday performing Theodora.

Henry, sweet Henry Henry, sweet Henry

Although she began her career nearly 25 years ago recording and performing lots of baroque music, I was surprised to see German soprano Dorothea Röschmann promoted as the star attraction of an all-Purcell concert Sunday at Carnegie Hall.

Megalomania in mufti Megalomania in mufti

Who needs sets and costumes anyway?

Born to be Wilde Born to be Wilde

Cocooned in an amiable production of Theo Morrison‘s revised Oscar, David Daniels flew to new heights in the congenial title role.