Fleur du mal Fleur du mal

Too bad, then, that this season’s tossed flower was a bit of a wilted one.

Devil may not care Devil may not care

The subject of timidity has been in my thoughts in these waning days of February 2017. One would almost think there had been some big announcement recently, preceded by a series of smaller ones, to turn a U.S.-based opera fan’s thoughts in this direction. 

Joy in the morning

“Gioia!” is the title of Aleksandra Kurzak‘s debut aria recital, her first international release under a new exclusive contract with Decca Music Group, and—not surprisingly—this writer’s response to the soprano’s sparkling vocalism.   In the liner notes, the Polish soprano explains that the title of this recording was her agent’s suggestion: “He said that he can…