Conchita Supervia should have made it to the Met Conchita Supervia should have made it to the Met

For vibrato fanciers, of course, discovering Supervia is like hitting the mother lode.

Gertrud Grob-Prandl should have made it to the Met Gertrud Grob-Prandl should have made it to the Met

Yes, the Met had Birgit Nilsson – so they let the volcano that was Gertrude Grob-Prandl‘s voice slip through their fingers.

Lise with an “S” Lise with an “S”

Emma Hoffman reports on the glimmers of ecstatic artistry in Lise Davidsen‘s all-Schubert recital at Carnegie Hall with James Baillieu.

Mado Robin should have made it to the Met Mado Robin should have made it to the Met

I like to use this recording to annoy Mariah Carey fans by proving that whistle register doesn’t count.

Not in Kansas anymore Not in Kansas anymore

Christopher Corwin speaks to rising bass-baritone Le Bu about his journey from Yancheng, China to the Met (with a stop in Wichita) and what important roles await him.

A springtime baroque bouquet A springtime baroque bouquet

Christopher Corwin picks the flowers of a baroque May in New York City with reviews of concerts starring Lauren Snouffer, Key’mon Murrah, and the Oratorio Society of New York.

On the party platform On the party platform

Don’t expect any sweeping statements from Franz Welser-Möst ‘s polished, if dramatically inert, Fidelio.

In my end is my beginning In my end is my beginning

Die Walküre heralds the end of an era for the Los Angeles Philharmonic — and the arrival of a new generation of Wagnerians.

A favorite Verdi performance from Krunoslav A favorite Verdi performance from Krunoslav

Much as I love the Abbado Deutsche Grammophon studio set, this 1980 San Francisco Opera live Simon Boccanegra under Lamberto Gardelli has an emotional punch.

Difficult people Difficult people

Anna Pirozzi makes a welcome return to the Metropolitan Opera, but Turandot remains as thorny as ever.

Dream a little dream of me Dream a little dream of me

Gabriela Lena Frank’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego enchants and surprises despite the Disnified treatment of its subject matter.

The Pennsylvania Dutchman The Pennsylvania Dutchman

Verdi’s Stiffelio goes Amish in Vienna, featuring a stellar Luciano Ganci in the title role.

Pensar che una partita decide d’una Vida Pensar che una partita decide d’una Vida

“Soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė will make her company debut singing the role of Minnie in the new production of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, replacing Sondra Radvanovsky, who has withdrawn due to personal reasons.”

Joie de vivre Joie de vivre

Erin Morley, Lawrence Brownlee, and Malcolm Martineau put on a jolly good show at the 92nd Street Y.

No need to grin and bear it No need to grin and bear it

An exciting cast digs their claws into a heady production of La Calisto at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées.

Three faces of Violetta Three faces of Violetta

Christopher Corwin surveys the three Traviata casts — led by Lisette Oropesa, Rosa Feola, and Ermonela Jaho — at the Met this spring.

A favorite Verdi performance from Tildy Diva A favorite Verdi performance from Tildy Diva

A well-known Met Aïda with a starry cast from 1967 is TildyDiva’s Favorite Verdi Performance

Don’t cry because it’s over Don’t cry because it’s over

Grand Tier Grab Bag hearkens back to the days when Sondra Radvanovsky — who is singing no Verdi at all next season — seemed like the Verdi soprano of reference.

All the lovely things you are to me All the lovely things you are to me

To celebrate the 100th anniversary performances of Turandot at the Met starting next week, Patrick Dillon gives a listen to seven versions of “Signore, ascolta!” for Perspectives on an Aria.

Which side story? Which side story?

Vivacious performances outweigh a host of odd directorial choices in the Washington National Opera‘s
West Side Story

Un paio in tre Un paio in tre

Christopher Corwin and Andrew Lokay provide dual perspectives on the National Symphony Orchestra‘s performances of Puccini’s triple-bill.

They don’t stoop to conquer They don’t stoop to conquer

The countertenors conquer the day in Handel‘s Giulio Cesare in Egitto at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

“Modern convention is the oddity” “Modern convention is the oddity”

Michael Spyres talks to Kevin Ng about his winding path as a baritenor, which composer he wants to conquer next, and how he makes Wagner work in his voice — and in his native Ozarks.

Bloodless revolution Bloodless revolution

Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung at Canadian Opera Company deliver on fine performances even if Robert Lepage‘s production skimps on horror.