Bernard Herrmann was a great opera conductor Bernard Herrmann was a great opera conductor

It is no wonder Bernard Herrmann relishes the wistful lyricism in Barber’s masterwork, as Herrmann’s score for Vertigo is among the most beautiful and haunting of all film scores ever composed.

There are no dead There are no dead

John Danaher pays an operatic tribute to the writings of James McCourt, an author who captured the spirit of opera as queer and dangerous like no other.

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.

Shadows of a doubt Shadows of a doubt

R.B. Schlather‘s shadowy production with Heartbeat Opera at the Williamstown Theatre Festival proves that Vanessa might be coming into its own at last

A favorite Wagner performance from Peter A favorite Wagner performance from Peter

Eleanor Steber and Wolfgang Windgassen in the Act III bridal chamber scene of Lohengrin.

This summer I’m reading <em>Eleanor Steber: An Autobiography</em> This summer I’m reading <em>Eleanor Steber: An Autobiography</em>

A fascinating autobiography that delivers both on the diva anecdotes and on intelligent artistic observations about the singer’s life.

More people should listen to Aga Mikolaj More people should listen to Aga Mikolaj

Aga Mikolaj (born Agnieszka Beata Mikolajczyk) sang Strauss and Mozart with a gorgeous, shimmering tone.

A favorite Mozart performance from MisterSnow A favorite Mozart performance from MisterSnow

Sing High, Sing Low – My favorite Fiordiligi

Unnecessary performance problems Unnecessary performance problems

Patrick Mack on the iconic Ethan Mordden‘s career and his first book on opera in 30 years – and it appears that time has mostly stopped in the Mordden manse.

Hoppscotch Hoppscotch

On this day in 1959 Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere (in English)

Bold intruders, leave this house this very instant! Bold intruders, leave this house this very instant!

On this day in 1951, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Così fan tutte directed by Alfred Lunt.

“A gay event” “A gay event”

On this day in 1949 the Metropolitan Opera opened their season with a televised(!) performance of Der Rosenkavalier.

A soldier’s play A soldier’s play

On this day in 1959 Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere.

A Norman conquest A Norman conquest

When I first heard of this broadcast my thought was to save it to celebrate Jessye Norman‘s 75th birthday in 2020.

Aestival body Aestival body

Broadway star Kelli O’Hara stepped out of her comfort zone.

She’s a rebel, she’s a saint She’s a rebel, she’s a saint

Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco in a rare NYC concert performance with Margaret Price, Carlo Bergonzi and Sherrill Milnes.

Et voila l’histoire Et voila l’histoire

To mark Beverly Sills’s 90th birthday (May 25, 1929) “Trove Thursday” offers the late diva’s acclaimed Massenet heroine opposite her ideal Des Grieux, Alain Vanzo.

Out of the shadows Out of the shadows

“Trove Thursday” offers Die Frau ohne Schatten conducted by Georg Solti and also featuring Regina Resnik, Donald McIntyre and the inevitable James King.

Tone police Tone police

Sixty years ago today, Berg’s Wozzeck was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera. 

The vinyl countdown The vinyl countdown

At one point I spent a couple of months on the dole and dollar record shopping had a number of obvious virtues as a pastime.

You shall know them by their ‘Flutes’ You shall know them by their ‘Flutes’

This year’s Salzburg Festival opens Saturday with a new production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, an opera often performed elsewhere in translation, so “Trove Thursday” offers two for the price (!) of one.

Three sisters who are not sisters Three sisters who are not sisters

Due to bandwidth limits “Trove Thursday” must post some more modest offerings in months with five Thursdays.

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.

Trick or trill Trick or trill

With help from the Met’s invaluable performance archive, here is a look back at just some of what you could have seen, and perhaps did see, on October 31st through the years at the Met.