Bohemienne Bohemienne

Soprano Ailyn Pérez has been named the recipient of the 11th annual Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera.

Have you seen the proconsul? Have you seen the proconsul?

La Cieca hears that Joseph Calleja will sing Pollione opposite the Norma of Anna Netrebko at the Met for opening night 2017.

Doge days Doge days

That Placido Domingo and James Levine, the Met’s inexorable septuagenarians, would team up yet again—on April Fools’ Day, no less—for a revival of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra occasioned an uncomfortable degree of doubt and dread.

I love the ’90s I love the ’90s

“This story has been revised to correct production was Giancarlo del Monaco‘s, not Elijah Moshinsky‘s.”

The chopping block? The chopping block?

After five flops in a row, Mr. McVicar continues to win new assignments from the Met.

I want your Essex I want your Essex

During its first-ever Roberto Devereux Thursday evening one felt transported back to the Volpe years: four of the Met’s biggest stars shining in an opulent (if occasionally perverse) but reassuringly non-challenging production paid for by Sybil B. Harrington.

Chat: Roberto Devereux Chat: Roberto Devereux

Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat for this evening’s Met premiere of Roberto Devereux, starting at 7:55 PM. Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Chat: L’elisir d’amore Chat: L’elisir d’amore

Crack open a bottle of Bordeaux and enjoy this afternoon’s “La Casa della Cieca” chat during the Met broadcast of L’elisir d’amore.

Transcendental Transcendental

“Join me this Friday at The Metropolitan Opera for the next #FUN40”

Must the finals come so soon? Must the finals come so soon?

Without fail, all nine finalists had nice clear ringing voices. Whether they develop into great artists is another question. 

His cup runneth over His cup runneth over

As portrayed by Vittorio Grigolo, Nemorino was a manic self-absorbed, probably bipolar, stalker whoagainst all odds and good sense—gets the poor girl.

About a boy About a boy

These days a cadre of voluble opera-goers regularly issues dire warnings that anyone about to attend this or that production at the Met should close her eyes and just listen rather than witness yet another Peter Gelb regie “atrocity.”

Two and only Two and only

Anna Netrebko and Latonia Moore (pictured) rekindle “The Grand Opera Buzz.”

Winter afternoon’s dream Winter afternoon’s dream

It took the better part of a decade—including two high-profile cancelations—or New York to finally hear Anna Netrebko in recital.

Anagnorisis Anagnorisis

Ana María Martínez will sing Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly on February 27 and March 5.

Seamless Seamless

“Friday night’s triumph may well leave the Met’s management wondering how it let such a gem slip through its fingers.”

Of what I dream in the quiet afternoon Of what I dream in the quiet afternoon

Anna Netrebko‘s sold-out recital at the Metropolitan Opera House on Sunday afternoon will be broadcast on SiriusXM Met Opera Radio, channel 74.

Wise woman Wise woman

Ana Maria Martinez’s tremendously impressive Cio-Cio-San dominated the season premiere of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Met. 

End of the line End of the line

“Mr. Eyre’s production… was just another in a series of ugly, gargantuan stagings signaling the Met’s endemic lack of imagination or artistic ambition.”

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-2017 season! The Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-2017 season!

The Met’s 2016-2017 season opens on September 26 with a new production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

Wrecking ball Wrecking ball

Sir Richard Eyre’s new Manon Lescaut at the Met Friday night demonstrated no particular aptitude for opera.

Chat: Manon Lescaut Chat: Manon Lescaut

Welcome, cher public, to the real-time chat (or at least commentary) for tonight’s Met premiere of Manon Lescaut, starting at 7:55 PM ET on Listen Live.

Il core vi dono Il core vi dono

With February 14th falling on a Sunday, there will be no Valentine’s Day Met performance this year.

Not nobody, not nohow! Not nobody, not nohow!

“Mr. Luisi won praise replacing Mr. Levine time after time, particularly in a costly version of Wagner’s Ring cycle—though, perhaps in a sign of the situation’s delicacy, the two conductors have never met in person.”