Occult following Occult following

Radvanovsky delivered a vocal and histrionic performance that should be the gold standard Norma for years.

Hooray for Holy Land Hooray for Holy Land

Trove Thursday presents as compensation Verdi’s Jérusalem with Cecilia Gasdia, Veriano Luchetti and Silvano Carroli conducted by Donato Renzetti.

Pretty in Puritani Pretty in Puritani

Pretty Yende was still hanging around after her last Barbiere and she knows the role of Elvira, having sung it in Zurich last June.

The leggy movie The leggy movie

This Met’s second production of Berg’s 1935 opera was the hot topic of November 2015.

The right box The right box

Let’s call this meeting to order. My name is Patrick and I’m a boxset-aholic.

Purists Purists

Someone—a deranged purist no doubt—heckled Javier Camarena from the balcony of the opera house for withholding the infamous high F during “Credeasi, misera.”

Woman on the verge of a repertoire breakthrough Woman on the verge of a repertoire breakthrough

Revive is a manifesto of sorts, declaring Elina Garanca’s intentions for the new direction in her career.

Sleeping with the fishes Sleeping with the fishes

With a cast of stellar singers and uneven direction by Mary Zimmerman, Dvorák’s Rusalka debuts in a new production at the Metropolitan Opera.

The sprite in you The sprite in you

Today’s Rusalka video overview covers filmed performances of Dvorák’s opera since 2010.

Does whatever a spider can Does whatever a spider can

The beautiful singing here is less in the sound than in the way the voice moves.

Gold rush Gold rush

Now we find Mariella Devia, a diva held in near mythic regard due to her vocal longevity, with competing videos of two of her performances that were released, literally, on the same day.

Salvation for the savior Salvation for the savior

Kaufmann conveys Lohengrin’s immense loneliness in a profoundly moving way. I am happy to report that vocally he sounds completely recovered.

Scritto in ciel Scritto in ciel

In our circle, Mexico City in the summer was the opera capital of the world from the late 1940s and early 1950.

It’s a Mantua’s world It’s a Mantua’s world

Verdi’s Rigoletto returned to the Met Friday in the stilted “Las Vegas” production by Michael Mayer, with mostly competent singing from a good-looking cast.

Not my dragoon Not my dragoon

The Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Carmen began with a bit of drama Thursday night when tenor Rafael Davila replaced Marcelo Álvarez.

La bontà in trionfo La bontà in trionfo

“Trove Thursday” offers a sparkling performance of Rossini’s La Cenerentola from our nation’s capital featuring the scintillating conducting of Claudio Abbado and Lucia Valentini-Terrani in the title role. 

Blut force Blut force

The very first Vienna post-war performance of Elektra.

You give me fever You give me fever

Mortality is ugly—it smells, it makes uncomfortable noises, it takes its time; and then there is the overwhelming sense of dread and helplessness.

Nadir at zenith Nadir at zenith

Les Pêcheurs de Perles with an impressive Francophone cast headed by the superb Nadir of Alain Vanzo, one of my favorite tenors.

A little off the top A little off the top

Beaumarchais clearly delighted in this unobtrusive realm.

Theory of revolution Theory of revolution

Jonas Kaufmann announced that he feels ready to return to the stage after calling in sick since last autumn

Sea, no evil Sea, no evil

Breaking the Waves is not only a “real opera,” it is an immensely powerful work of music drama.

Comparisons are odious Comparisons are odious

One thing that is killing opera is the practice of critics’ comparing the singers they heard last night to dead or retired artists.

Suivez-moi dans le temple Suivez-moi dans le temple

2017 happily brings the return of Trove Thursday with a rare and enthralling live performance of Gluck’s Alceste featuring Jessye Norman.