Jailhouse Roccos Jailhouse Roccos

Chris’s Cache wraps up November with Régine Crespin’s Chicago Leonore; two rare Met Fidelios headed by Christa Ludwig and Hildegard Behrens; and a concert performance with Birgit Nilsson led by Leonard Bernstein, plus a final twist: excerpts of Carol Vaness in Leonore.

Miss Nilsson did all the right things Miss Nilsson did all the right things

On this day in 1965 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Salome.

An unholy decadence An unholy decadence

On this day in 1966 the Metropolitan Opera presented a new production of Elektra.

Les infants terribles Les infants terribles

Don Carlos is my favorite Verdi opera, and I’m always in favor of including the most music. But it can be a dizzying task to keep track of all the options.

Rex appeal Rex appeal

Say this about Oedipus: The character’s got staying power.

Tragedy Orff Deutsch

Carl Orff’s 1949 opera (or quasi-opera, as some critics have called it) Antigonae has been issued on 2 CDs on the Profil label, in a Munich radio recording from 1958. This recording, conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch and featuring the German soprano Martha Mödl in the title role, is a most welcome addition to this work’s…