Drink me Drink me

Parterre Box answers the question, “how can a singer do both Tristan and Nemorino within a few month of each other?” with a clip of a recent role debut from Michael Spyres.

The 1957 <em>Anna Bolena</em> is so overrated The 1957 <em>Anna Bolena</em> is so overrated

While the three leads do sing the material well, there has been a glut of recordings since then which are more complete and at least as well sung.

Irish blessing Irish blessing

Lise Davidsen‘s first Isolde is only one of the highlights of Tristan und Isolde at the Liceu in Barcelona.

When her ship comes in When her ship comes in

Anticipating the titanic arrival of Lise Davidsen‘s Isolde in New York in March, Parterre Box is thrilled to share a bit of her debut opposite Clay Hilley recorded in Barcelona last week.

I’m never gonna dance again I’m never gonna dance again

A starry cast is hampered by Christof Loy‘s dour production of Rusalka in Barcelona

A favorite Donizetti performance from Cornelia A favorite Donizetti performance from Cornelia

Donizetti’s never been a desert island composer of mine, but he comes close when I hear Edita Gruberova in her prime.

Bachelor party Bachelor party

It may be blasphemy to admit—particularly this month—but usually I can either take or leave Donizetti’s serious operas. However, I love the composer in comic mode, so Chris’s Cache runs with that sentiment in offering three recordings of Don Pasquale.

La traviata La traviata

Nadine Sierra, Javier Camarena, and Artur Rucinski lead a live broadcast from Barcelona.

Being beauteous Being beauteous

With its sumptuous wood paneling, frescoed ceilings, and various Gilded Age trappings, the Park Avenue Armory’sBoard of Officers Room certainly is not a bad place to spend Valentine’s Day—even better when it plays host to equally sumptuous music-making.

Got to get you into my strife Got to get you into my strife

Power struggles, prejudice, feuds and revenge abound in San Francisco at the moment.

The Real thing The Real thing

Surrounded by security and greeted by a bevy of cameras, Su Majestad la Reina Sofía brought a bit of excitement to an evening that didn’t end up being all that musically rewarding.

Star quality Star quality

The 1990s effectively signaled a new phase in Edita Gruberova‘s career with her undertaking more demanding, heavier roles, while still essaying Zerbinetta and Lucia.

No country for gold men No country for gold men

Trove Thursday offers two very different live recordings of Halévy’s grand opera La Juive.

“I am finding my way as I go” “I am finding my way as I go”

The musical director of the Opera Royal de Wallonie at Liege is currently experiencing the early phase of a promising international career in music.

Behind closed doors Behind closed doors

Mozart appears to find promiscuity a source of humor rather than something that is a fundamental problem.

Uphill climb Uphill climb

The Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho is surely the reason that Covent Garden has made a commercial release of this “Live to Cinemas” relay from March of 2017.

Mitigated Gaul Mitigated Gaul

Kevin Newbury‘s familiar production of Bellini’s Norma with its most frequent leading lady, the American Sondra Radvanovsky.

The lady is a camp The lady is a camp

Verdi’s Macbeth gets true blood-and-guts treatment from Guillermo Sarabia and the legendary Marisa Galvany.

Mice mice baby Mice mice baby

This “new-to-Chicago” production is a sheer pleasure from beginning to end.

The girl next door The girl next door

On first hearing, Paul Dukas’ 1907 opera Ariane et Barbe-bleue (Ariane and Bluebeard) sounds like the love child of a three-way between Wagner, Strauss, and Debussy.

Crack of doom Crack of doom

It took about 30 minutes for me to grow restless watching the world premiere video of Gyorgi Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre from Gran Teatre del Liceu.

Stealing Rome Stealing Rome

L’incoronazione di Poppea nearly disappeared from the stage completely after its 1642 Venice premiere and a Naples revival in 1651.

Captive audience Captive audience

Die Entführung aus dem Serail has been a bit of an unruly child recently, with productions by Neuenfels and Bieito dividing audiences and inspiring critics like Heather MacDonald to lengthy manifestos.

There will have been blood There will have been blood

There’s nothing like a good performance of Verdi’s Macbeth and here is proof positive because this dvd is (almost) nothing like a good performance.