Not only with words, but with lively gestures Not only with words, but with lively gestures

“I will never sing the role again. It was frightful. We were a set of madwomen…There is nothing beyond Elektra. We have lived and reached the furthest boundaries in dramatic writing for the voice with Wagner. But Richard Strauss goes beyond him. His singing voices are lost. We have come to a full stop.” 

By on April 12, 2016 at 9:00 AM
62 comments
Spunk Spunk

In issue #46 of parterre box the queer opera zine (“Spunk”), you will find an endorsement by the legendary Astrid Varnay.

By on March 29, 2014 at 11:43 AM
12 comments
Less than Zarah Less than Zarah

In a slight detour from the usual all-opera-all-the-time format of parterre box, the queer opera zine, issue #44 centers on Ben Letzler‘s superb appreciation of film and cabaret diva Zarah Leander.

By on March 14, 2014 at 7:59 AM
19 comments
Das glückliche Ungeheuer Das glückliche Ungeheuer

What better way to welcome Halloween than with that scariest of all operas, Salome, in a performance culled from one of Mike Richter‘s magnificent CD-ROMs?

By on October 31, 2013 at 1:34 AM
72 comments
Hehr bist du, und heilig gewahr’ ich das Wotanskind Hehr bist du, und heilig gewahr’ ich das Wotanskind

Coincidental with the ongoing parterre discussion about the careers of dramatic sopranos, our friends at Opera Depot are saluting the immortal Astrid Varnay.

By on September 14, 2013 at 9:59 AM
8 comments