Jaundiced view Jaundiced view

Richard Lynn bravely asks what we’re hoping to get out of the continued Peter Gelb-bashing — and whether our expectations of him have ever been fair

A favorite Wagner performance from Roger Pines A favorite Wagner performance from Roger Pines

I’d never heard Götterdämmerung in a live performance until 1985 at The Dallas Opera. OMG, so long ago!

A favorite Wagner performance from Mister Snow A favorite Wagner performance from Mister Snow

It took me a while to “warm up” to Wagner.

Sing out, <em>Louise</em> Sing out, <em>Louise</em>

Christof Loy‘s Louise in Aix-en-Provence scratches at the urban– and operatic– unconscious

Shadows of a doubt Shadows of a doubt

R.B. Schlather‘s shadowy production with Heartbeat Opera at the Williamstown Theatre Festival proves that Vanessa might be coming into its own at last

The Aix factor The Aix factor

This summer’s festival, taking place amid record high temperatures and in the wake of its artistic director, Pierre Audi, featured a disquietingly zeigeisty focus on sexual violence.

A lion in winter A lion in winter

Sherrill Milnes sits down with Brendan Latimer to talk about his life, career, and what he hopes to pass along to the next generation

Robert Wilson 1941-2025 Robert Wilson 1941-2025

The groundbreaking director and designer of works like Einstein on the Beach died earlier today at his home in Water Mill, New York

He plays the violin He plays the violin

This Bard production, led by Leon Botstein, makes the strongest possible case musically, dramatically and visually for Smetana’s opera Dalibor.

Gilda! mia Gilda!…È morta! Gilda! mia Gilda!…È morta!

Mexican soprano Gilda Cruz-Romo died on 28 June at the age of 85 and Chris’s Cache remembers her with live recordings of a frequent role and a rather rare one: a last-minute Met Tosca plus perhaps her only stab at the Cherubini Medea.

Cask in the glory Cask in the glory

A North American debut of a respectable French Baroque ensemble, an ebullient presentation of La fille du régiment, and an afternoon soiree in Wine Country proved to be the hottest (yet affordable!) tickets around here this Summer.

Thane and suffering Thane and suffering

In the 1847 version of Macbeth, the forces of Teatro Nuovo lacked the thunderous punch this music can pack, but provided a pleasant ride

Change my mind about Regietheater Change my mind about Regietheater

Carmen Paddock and Mr. Portafiori aren’t getting the hype behind Ivo van Hove, Krzysztof Warlikowski, and Calitxo Bieito

The gaul of some people The gaul of some people

It’s Norma, darling. We know.

Norma demente Norma demente

Jessica Pratt’s last-minute Norma in Milan might well be the stuff of legend

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

Sleepwalkers awake Sleepwalkers awake

La sonnambula at Teatro Nuovo overcomes uneven casting to highlight the many charms of Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece

The bodies keep score The bodies keep score

Music for New Bodies at Lincoln Center’s Running AMOC* Festival proves Matthew Aucoin really is everything he’s made out to be

Breaking the box Breaking the box

Jacquelyn Stucker talks to Kevin Ng about repertoire, tearing down the Fach system, and what it takes to make music from baroque to George Benjamin her own.

Change my mind about the Toscanini <em>Bohème</em> Change my mind about the Toscanini <em>Bohème</em>

It’s like making love with someone whose rap never ceases—and includes “helpful suggestions” about how you can be improving your game.

Troth or dare Troth or dare

Chris’s Cache would argue that Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery is a much more enjoyable alternative to the pandemic-canceled Barrie Kosky The Fiery Angel

Canonically ossified Canonically ossified

When such a canonically ossified work like Verdi’s Aïda is directed at all (let alone as ambitiously as Damiano Michieletto at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino), it does feel like a completely different opera

Change my mind about performing operetta in English Change my mind about performing operetta in English

I so don’t get why any company in the Anglophone world ever bothers to perform Continental operetta in English.

Now and at the hour of our death Now and at the hour of our death

This evening of Julius Eastman at Lincoln Center was so good it hurt