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.

Wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’ Wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’

Eli Jacobson inaugurates parterre box’s new “Perspectives on the Aria” feature with a deep dive into Leonore’s “Abscheulicher!” from Beethoven’s Fidelio which returns to the Metropolitan Opera tomorrow with the Met’s current dramatic soprano star Lise Davidsen as Leonore.

Hear the trumpets sound! Hear the trumpets sound!

Frankly I thought Sondra Radvanovsky had reached her pinnacle with her Norma but I was apparently mistaken. I’m happy to say her Turandot is completely next-level.

Blood-covered hands Blood-covered hands

On this day in 1992 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor directed by Francesca Zambello (not pictured.)

“Dynamic, highly charged, tigerish” “Dynamic, highly charged, tigerish”

On this day in 1956 the Metropolitan Opera opened its season with Maria Callas in Norma.

Norma viene Norma viene

On this day in 1956 Maria Callas made her Met debut as Norma.

Diary of the dead Diary of the dead

Joyce DiDonato’s take on Winterreise is a conceptual misstep that, song after song, frustratingly dilutes and distracts from an often rewarding musical performance.

Storm of the century Storm of the century

A sense of celebration was definitely in the air last Thursday at the Vienna State Opera.

Strangers when we meet Strangers when we meet

The aphorisms projected before each act of Das Wunder der Heliane suggested the work concerns the transformative power of love—but does it really?

Composer’s intentions Composer’s intentions

A live broadcast of the prologue to Ariadne auf Naxos featuring Julia Varady, a favorite sopranos in a role she sang only rarely.

Intermezzo (a love story) Intermezzo (a love story)

 The glorious and beloved Elisabeth Söderström tackles the fiendishly difficult role of Christine in a 1974 performance from Glyndebourne.

The lion in stereo The lion in stereo

A great man has passed and our consolation is that so much of his art has been preserved for us on recordings.

Female on the beach Female on the beach

Christian Thielemann has proved himself to be the preeminent Strauss interpreter of the current generation of conductors and he’s in striking  form here.

Shadow, no doubt Shadow, no doubt

Richard Strauss’s “last romantic opera,” as he called Die Frau Ohne Schatten, is and has always been a problem child.