Scritto in ciel Scritto in ciel

In our circle, Mexico City in the summer was the opera capital of the world from the late 1940s and early 1950.

on January 24, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Blut force Blut force

The very first Vienna post-war performance of Elektra.

on January 17, 2017 at 9:06 AM
Theory of revolution Theory of revolution

Jonas Kaufmann announced that he feels ready to return to the stage after calling in sick since last autumn

on January 09, 2017 at 8:30 AM
Conspicuous consumption Conspicuous consumption

A classic 1974 New York City Opera La traviata with Beverly Sills, John Stewart and Dominic Cossa conducted by Julius Rudel.

on January 02, 2017 at 2:11 PM
Come to the unstable Come to the unstable

Let’s celebrate the coming of 2017 with a peek at Elsa Lanchester’s cabaret act consisting of bawdy Cockney songs.

on December 26, 2016 at 12:20 PM
Himself when young Himself when young

This week features Roger Norrington leading a December 2006 performance of Berlioz/ Enfance du Christ  from Berlin

on December 19, 2016 at 12:23 PM
Will you tell me what it’s all for? Will you tell me what it’s all for?

“Good God—an adult musical!”

on December 12, 2016 at 10:42 AM
Next to Norma Next to Norma

Anita Cerquetti had one of the most remarkable, most brief careers in opera in the past century.

on December 05, 2016 at 3:48 PM
Solid gold Solid gold

This week’s opera is Die Liebe der Danae.

on November 28, 2016 at 8:24 AM
Leonie on the Nile Leonie on the Nile

Leonie Rysanek, would have turned 90 today.

on November 14, 2016 at 10:20 AM
Trouble in Thebes Trouble in Thebes

What to do with all those glorious short operas: play them alone or find companion pieces?

on November 07, 2016 at 10:45 AM
The lady is a camp The lady is a camp

Verdi’s Macbeth gets true blood-and-guts treatment from Guillermo Sarabia and the legendary Marisa Galvany.

on October 31, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Hell and back Hell and back

A simply gorgeous performance of Gluck’s Orphée et Euridice starring Juan Diego Flórez. 

on October 24, 2016 at 10:46 AM
Bard of Avon calling Bard of Avon calling

Works inspired by William Shakespeare are everywhere in 2016.

on October 17, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Strike up the banned Strike up the banned

Jonny spielt auf, the second opera by 26-year-old composer Ernest K?enek, was such a huge success after its 1927 Leipzig premiere that in the following season it was performed 491 times in Germany alone. 

on October 03, 2016 at 7:09 PM
One night of love One night of love

Your alte Jungfer’s requisite Kuschelkatze (pictured) arrived on my doorstep in Mariahilf with the name of Tristan.

on September 19, 2016 at 12:34 PM
Devil’s advocate Devil’s advocate

Just 85 years ago, four of Italy’s greatest opera stars gathered at Teatro all Scala for an historic event: the first-ever recording of Arrigo Boito’s sole complete opera, Mefistofele.

on September 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Sinner and Scott Sinner and Scott

Among the highlights were concert performances of Jules Massenet’s Thaïs and Otto Nicolai’s Il templario.

on September 05, 2016 at 1:29 PM
Beyond the forest Beyond the forest

Mimìs, Violettas, and Cio-Cio-Sans may live, love, and meet their ends without a tear from me, but I have never left a performance of Janácek’s The Cunning Little Vixen dry-eyed.

on August 29, 2016 at 10:41 AM
It happened one knight It happened one knight

Falstaff, Verdi’s totally unexpected, final, great comedic roar.

on August 22, 2016 at 10:42 AM
‘Tale’ of the unexpected ‘Tale’ of the unexpected

I am happy to finally add Les contes d’Hoffmann to the playlist in a Salzburg performance from 2003 with Neil Shicoff in one of his parade roles.

on August 15, 2016 at 12:56 PM
Prater song Prater song

It will be no surprise that your alte Jungfer (pictured) is particularly fond of the music of Richard Strauss.

on August 08, 2016 at 10:00 AM
To each word a warbling note To each word a warbling note

“What fools these mortals be!” 

on August 01, 2016 at 10:44 AM
Festive days Festive days

There has been a conspicuous absence of chat on Parterre about this year’s Bayreuther Festspiele.

on July 25, 2016 at 1:21 PM