‘Do’ or die ‘Do’ or die

Hoping to speed up the arrival of spring, parterre box coaxes you to Michael Spyres‘s blazing pira with an in-house sampling of his Manrico from last fall’s Il trovatore in Houston.

Spyres of ascension Spyres of ascension

Chris’s Cache steps up with a recording of Michael Spyres in Lohengrin, as well as with a capture of Spyres in the title role of a 2017 La Clemenza di Tito.

Berlioz and Wagner Berlioz and Wagner

John Nelson conducts Michael Spyres and Joyce DiDonato in a live broadcast from Strasbourg

Dance to the music Dance to the music

I can’t say it’s precisely my idea of Handel, but I’ve watched this clip at least a half dozen times!

Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan Elaborate coloratura, stylish élan

This review attempts to capture my ecstatic reactions to Contra-Tenor, one of the greatest recordings I’ve ever heard.

Zero gravitas Zero gravitas

On the train ride home I was thinking that I don’t want to see or hear Norma ever again.

Ocean, thou mighty monster Ocean, thou mighty monster

Michael Spyres’s nobly moving Idomeneo wasn’t just a bravura triumph: singing strongly throughout, he brought more colors to his portrayal of the tortured king than I had experienced from others in the Ponnelle production.

Magnificent: Michael Spyres in recital Magnificent: Michael Spyres in recital

This tenor must be the finest classical singer in the world today.

Theodora Theodora

A concert performance featuring Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres, with Il Pomo d’Oro Choir and Orchestra conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

The high and the mighty The high and the mighty

Last Wednesday the 92nd Street Y presented the friendliest-ever episode of American Gladiators when Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres continued their bel canto bromance with a delirious (almost) all-Rossini recital accompanied by Myra Huang.

Tenors al fresco Tenors al fresco

Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres are two singers at the top of their game, as this concert showed, virtually peerless in music as punishing as it is pretty.

That’s what friends are for That’s what friends are for

Erato’s irresistible Rossini collection Amici e Rivali is hands down my favorite vocal CD of 2020, featuring the inspired bravura sparrings of Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres.

Faust class Faust class

Michael Spyres as Faust, despite a few flickers of indisposition, was nearly ideal.

Bea in the bonnet Bea in the bonnet

Everyone who revives Bellini’s Beatrice di Tenda, as the Collegiate Chorale did at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday night, calls the piece an “overlooked masterpiece.”

The Beatrice generation The Beatrice generation

Beatrice di Tenda was a problem child, Vincenzo Bellini an alternately protective and disparaging parent.