Star of the shoji screen Star of the shoji screen

My vision may have been slightly blurry at the end.

Dancing at the edge of the world Dancing at the edge of the world

Puccini’s schmaltziest, most melodic, most dramatically limp, most cynical, most obscure mature work

Fascinating chiaroscuro Fascinating chiaroscuro

On this day in 1984, the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini.

Dance the night away Dance the night away

On this day in 2008 the Metropolitan Opera presented a gala new production of Puccini’s La rondine.

Romeo and Gilda Romeo and Gilda

The winners of the evening were the composer Riccardo Zandonai and Teatro Grattacielo which pulled off a near-impossible feat with success.

Queen of the Maybe Queen of the Maybe

“I didn’t think anything could be campier than Adriana. But this is nothing but camp. Adriana at least has tunes.”

Old-fashioned wedding Old-fashioned wedding

If the Arthaus Musik release of Le nozze di Figaro from La Scala feels like a slouchy revival pulled haphazardly from the video vault, the singers are certainly not at fault. Ildebrando D’Arcangelo and Diana Damrau, starring as Figaro and Susanna, are bankable stars who live up to the hype. At the podium, Gérard Korsten…