BASTA: Evan can wait BASTA: Evan can wait

Weekends at Aura Bar on 53rd and Ninth are typically big money makers for the morons who run the place. Jonjon and Yoni.

Scrumptious and relatable Scrumptious and relatable

I had a panic attack, that’s how moved you made me.

Sgombra è la sacra megaplex Sgombra è la sacra megaplex

I suspect that David McVicar’s new production of the Metropolitan Opera’s Norma had its most congenial showing as a totality, specifically in the HD format at the movie theater.

For me and my Gaul For me and my Gaul

I first went bonkers for Bellini’s masterpiece during the previous century when the Met remounted it for Joan Sutherland.

Woman on the Vergy Woman on the Vergy

“Trove Thursday” offers Gemma di Vergy with the lovely, largely now forgotten Adriana Maliponte in the title role.

And three for Mahler And three for Mahler

A poster outside Carnegie Hall proclaimed “Mahler Well Met” and to some degree it proved to be true.

I won’t dance, don’t ask me I won’t dance, don’t ask me

A live Un Ballo in Maschera featuring Jon Vickers, Amy Shuard, Lucia Popp, Shirley Verrett and Peter Glossop.

Angry in a noble manner Angry in a noble manner

“Trove Thursday” presents a live Motezuma conducted by Alan Curtis with Karina Gauvin, Sonia Prina, Mary-Ellen Nesi, Vito Priante and Ann Hallenberg (as Hernán Cortés!). 

Blood and Gorr Blood and Gorr

Massenet’s La Navarraise in a live performance featuring Rita Gorr as Anita and George Shirley as Araquil.

The most dangerous game The most dangerous game

“Trove Thursday” presents a recording of the rare L’Olimpiade featuring Joan Caplan and Rita Shane in the two leading castrato roles.

Death becomes him Death becomes him

Tancredi, given on February 10th, was a credit to Opera Philadelphia, who offered a well-considered and compelling production.

“Thy power standeth not in multitude nor thy might in strong men” “Thy power standeth not in multitude nor thy might in strong men”

An unstaged performance of Juditha Triumphans by five soloists and the Venice Baroque Orchestra under Andrea Marcon.

Scritto in ciel Scritto in ciel

In our circle, Mexico City in the summer was the opera capital of the world from the late 1940s and early 1950.

Teeny furniture Teeny furniture

Sony Classical has now released “Leontyne Price Prima Donna Assoluta” containing nearly her entire operatic oeuvre in a box set.

Period piece Period piece

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s production of L’Italiana in Algeri for the Met remains steadfastly ignorant of postcolonial theory.

“Troppo” notte “Troppo” notte

Thanks to the generosity of a parterre reader, “Trove Thursday” presents a rare recording from the famed Carnegie Hall series curated by Matthew Epstein to commemorate Handel’s tercentenary.

Opera Syria Opera Syria

“The music’s fun, but doesn’t Rossini repeat himself?”

Home brew Home brew

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

Morley marvelous Morley marvelous

Sunday afternoon at Carnegie Hall two remarkable slices of soprano-heaven were served up, first by Carolyn Sampson and then by Erin Morley, during the second act of Handel’s Orlando.

Castaway Castaway

The wonderful Spanish mezzo Teresa Berganza celebrates her 81st birthday next week and “Trove Thursday” gets the party started.

Winter afternoon’s dream Winter afternoon’s dream

It took the better part of a decade—including two high-profile cancelations—or New York to finally hear Anna Netrebko in recital.

Fast and furious Fast and furious

A 1984 performance of Handel’s Orlando with Marilyn Horne, Valerie Masterson, Marvis Martin, Jeffery Gall and Robert Lloyd, conducted by Charles Mackerras.

All about my mother All about my mother

On her 90th birthday “Trove Thursday” presents the late great Belgian mezzo Rita Gorr parenting Régine Crespin in Massenet’s Hérodiade.

Everytime we say goodbye Everytime we say goodbye

Gather around while I play Ghost of New Year’s Eve past!