Breaking
Don’t mask, don’t tell
The Metropolitan Opera and other classical music venue are dropping their mask requirements for audience members.
Bohemian rhapsody
Tenor Yusif Eyvazov, who was scheduled to sing Rodolfo in the upcoming four performances of Puccini’s La bohème, is ill and has withdrawn.
Send me an Angel
Soprano Angel Blue has been named the winner of the 2022 Richard Tucker Award.
Anti-war Anna
Anna Netrebko has issued a statement explicitly condemning the war in Ukraine.
Enter the queen
“Eleonora Buratto will make her role debut as Elisabeth de Valois in Verdi’s Don Carlo in the 2022–23 season, replacing Anna Netrebko for the first five performances of the run.”
A Philly that is ready for the race
As we continue to watch the world of live performance come cautiously back to post-COVID levels, I felt the greatest surge of joy so far when I saw Opera Philadelphia’s announcement of their 2022-23 season—and most especially, the reboot of Festival O.
“He’s not gay, he’s just autistic”
“Plus, he never laid a glove on those kids.” — Jonas Kaufmann, probably.
The Met and Anna Netrebko part ways
“It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb.
Anna: ‘Au revoir’
In a busy flurry of Instagram posts earlier today, Anna Netrebko announced a temporary withdrawal from her performing career.
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season announcement
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022-2023 season will offer seven new productions including the world-premiere staging of The Hours and the company premieres of Champion and Medea.
American gongster
Tantalizing tenor Michael Fabiano adds a new role to his repertoire barely five weeks from today.
All I asp of you
San Francisco Opera prepares to barge down the Nile.
Feel no pain
“The design of the Met’s new production [of Lucia di Lammermoor] by Simon Stone suggests a present-day American Rust Belt, an area once prosperous but now fallen into decline and neglect.”
An opening for a princess
Jamie Barton will sing Eboli in the Met’s new production of the original five-act French version of Verdi’s Don Carlos, replacing Elina Garanca, who has withdrawn.
Met, Orchestra reach agreement
A new collective bargaining agreement between the Metropolitan Opera and its orchestra, the last of the Met’s three largest unions to reach an agreement, was ratified today.
While you were sleeping
Jennifer Hudson “honors” Aretha Franklin by singing “Nessun dorma.”
Diane Zola departs
La Cieca has received a copy of a message, apparently from the Metropolitan Opera, announcing the departure of Diane Zola from the company.
Together again for the first time
At long last the plans for the Met’s 2017 New Year’s Eve Gala are to be realized.
Tears in heaven
Awesome, astounding, Asiatic Anna Netrebko sings Puccini and Puccini/Alfano at the Arena di Verona.
‘Cries’ baby
Should the new John Corigliano / Mark Adamo opera The Lord of Cries be renamed The Lord of Crisis?
Soft opening
As the Met gears up for its first performances in a year and a half. the company is already canceling shows in the early fall.
Dragoon race
Jamie Barton makes her highly-anticipated debut as Carmen opposite the legendary Stephanie Blythe as her alter ego Blythely Oratonio. As Don José!
Color Me Karita
Superstar diva on Twitter and everywhere else Karita Mattila has just unveiled her next project!
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).