A favorite bass performance from Moe Rear A favorite bass performance from Moe Rear

Fyodor Chaliapin, the very great Russian basso, to this day owns the role of Massenet’s Don Quichotte.

By Moe Rear March 05, 2026 at 6:00 AM
131 comments
A delicate but defined charm A delicate but defined charm

On this day in 1937 soprano Bidu Sayão made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Manon.

By February 13, 2023 at 6:00 AM
117 comments
Devil’s advocate Devil’s advocate

Just 85 years ago, four of Italy’s greatest opera stars gathered at Teatro all Scala for an historic event: the first-ever recording of Arrigo Boito’s sole complete opera, Mefistofele.

By September 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM
4 comments
The windmills of his mind The windmills of his mind

Jules Massenet’s Don Quichotte was one of a number of commissions from the Monte Carlo Opera that occupied the composer at the end of his life.

By June 04, 2012 at 2:04 PM
16 comments