Out of hell Out of hell

One can only pray that “three strikes, you’re out” applies at the Met. If so, we can rest easy that Jeremy Sams won’t be getting any new assignments.

Slice of life Slice of life

Washington National Opera presented the fourth annual installment of its “American Opera Initiative” series in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater Wednesday evening.

Journey to Italy Journey to Italy

Since its founding 20 years ago, Washington, DC-based Opera Lafayette has devoted its considerable imagination and energy to reviving lesser-known 17th and 18th century French operas.

Half a million marks Half a million marks

Unlike my friend Greg Freed, who entertainingly wrote of his ambivalence about seeing Il trovatore in a movie theater this season, I have embraced the Met Live in HD transmissions as a part of the modern operagoing experience.

Maxed out Maxed out

Might Max Emanuel Cencic be the countertenor for people who hate countertenors?

Where have all the bubbles gone? Where have all the bubbles gone?

As a whole, the evening seemed forced and a bit dispiriting.

Eve of destruction Eve of destruction

Mounting Verdi’s French grand operas in their original language is no longer as unusual as it once was.

Humans of old Madrid Humans of old Madrid

Bare Opera, the feisty little company that gave Debussy’s exquisite L’Enfant Prodigue in Chelsea last spring, is now operating in chic, rundown Bushwick where so many original enterprises sprout.

Consider the subtleness of the sea Consider the subtleness of the sea

Hopefully the assignment of Herman Melville’s endless whaling opus Moby-Dick as compulsory reading for High School students is a thing of the past.

Glass warfare Glass warfare

Saturday’s Washington National Opera premiere of a new version of Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton’s Appomattox had everything going for it but the opera.

Enigma variation Enigma variation

On Thursday evening Jennifer Wilson “finally” made a belated, disappointing Met debut as Turandot.

Let me like a soldier fall Let me like a soldier fall

Between them, Maria Guleghina, Marcello Giordani, James Morris and John Del Carlo have nearly 150 combined years of service on stage.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress” “If there is no struggle, there is no progress”

In New York, tradition insists, there are no limits to where a preposterous idea, talent and relentless determination will take you, in defiance of all the odds.

Sind das die Cherubim, die ihre Stimmen heben? Sind das die Cherubim, die ihre Stimmen heben?

It’s time for the annual celebration of the birth of Leonie Rysanek (who, as you know, is your alte Jungfer’s Diva of Divas).

Cherchez la femme (fatale) Cherchez la femme (fatale)

Lilith. Pandora. Circe. Salome. “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” Carmen. Brigid O’Shaughnessy: the eternal “femme fatale” still fascinates us.

Multicolored Multicolored

Polish singers are chameleons. They have to be.

Martyr system Martyr system

William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants made a much-anticipated appearance at Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival Saturday performing Theodora.

Barton glances Barton glances

The annual Richard Tucker Gala is probably the event of the year to indulge your love of verismo staples and can belto screaming.

Veiled threat Veiled threat

Angela Gheorghiu‘ s idiosyncratically alluring, sometimes maddening, always fascinating Floria Tosca inevitably became the evening’s unmissable raison d’être.

Trick or trill Trick or trill

With help from the Met’s invaluable performance archive, here is a look back at just some of what you could have seen, and perhaps did see, on October 31st through the years at the Met.

Bizet, Bizet, Bizet! Bizet, Bizet, Bizet!

“Trove Thursday” presents Don Procopio, an early two-act confection in Italian featuring an all-star French (and Belgian) cast.

Pa-Pa-Pa-Planter’s Punch Pa-Pa-Pa-Planter’s Punch

With a primary color, projection-heavy English-language Magic Flute that’s going to feel like a matinee whenever you see it, the SFO season has lived up to its initial promise.

Dream girl Dream girl

Whatever happened to Stefania Bonfadelli?

Aged in blood Aged in blood

Simply put, Christine Goerke is a stupendous Elektra.