One touch of venous One touch of venous

Like the hero of Parsifal, who finds the Holy Grail after a lifetime of frustrated wandering, the Met’s audience was finally rewarded for its patience.

on February 17, 2013 at 11:39 PM
No dice No dice

The Met took a gamble on a new production of Rigoletto Monday night—but, dramatically at least, the show crapped out.

on January 29, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Pretty perfect Pretty perfect

In a winter rich with splashy debuts, Friday’s performance of Le Comte Ory introduced a 27-year-old South African charmer who may well be the Met’s next big star.

on January 21, 2013 at 12:15 AM
C’est la guerre, mais ce n’est pas magnifique C’est la guerre, mais ce n’est pas magnifique

If war is hell, then Soldier Songs should rank somewhere around “purgatory.”

on January 14, 2013 at 11:30 PM
Winged victory Winged victory

A wayward bouquet conked Kristine Opolais on her noggin during the ovation Friday night in La Rondine—but that was the only mishap in the Latvian soprano’s spectacular Met debut.

on January 13, 2013 at 11:08 PM
I am missing the winter now I am missing the winter now

One quick way to warm up: Watching tenor heartthrob Roberto Alagna.

on January 03, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Vil cutlet Vil cutlet

True, Joyce DiDonato’s Mary spat out those fighting words in a tangy chest voice, but it was hard to believe she meant them.

on January 02, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Ribbed for your discomfort Ribbed for your discomfort

The Trojan Horse seemed like a great idea—that is, until it led to disaster.

on December 16, 2012 at 11:34 PM
What the well-dressed Alexandrian will wear What the well-dressed Alexandrian will wear

“The courtesan’s entourage included dancing girls in filmy harem pants and bedazzled Afro wigs, and the hunky chorus boys pranced about in velour leggings, codpieces and nipple ornaments.”

on December 07, 2012 at 12:38 AM
Notte e giorno criticar Notte e giorno criticar

Imagine if someone left Vermeer’s masterpiece “Girl With a Pearl Earring” out in the rain.

on November 29, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Smooth operatic Smooth operatic

Did the ancient Egyptians invent chest waxing?

on November 27, 2012 at 12:50 AM
Working “Tito” Working “Tito”

After an uneven start to the season, the Met brought its A game Friday to a superb revival of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.

on November 20, 2012 at 12:49 AM
Small scale Small scale

In art, less is more — at least most of the time.

on November 13, 2012 at 12:47 AM
Swedish frisson Swedish frisson

Last week’s freak nor’easter set the tone for Thursday’s chilly new production of Un Ballo in Maschera at the Met.

on November 11, 2012 at 11:15 PM
Down for the count Down for the count

The battle of the sexes ended in an upset the other night in Le Nozze di Figaro.

on November 04, 2012 at 11:50 PM
Rare opera well done Rare opera well done

“When the cross-dressing dude is the gifted singer Jeffery Roberson, and the opera is Menotti’s spellbinding The Medium, the result is prime musical melodrama.”

on October 30, 2012 at 12:52 AM
Isle, be seeing you Isle, be seeing you

“Like the Shakespeare play it’s based on, Thomas Adès’ opera The Tempest is set on an enchanted island.”

on October 25, 2012 at 12:34 AM
Beating time Beating time

So meandering and ragged a reading would be alarming at a first rehearsal; for a first night, it was a scandal.

on October 11, 2012 at 3:04 AM
The medium is the mezzos The medium is the mezzos

“Two generations of gypsy women dominated the first weekend of the Met’s new season.”

on October 02, 2012 at 1:17 AM
Medium and rare Medium and rare

“Considering one of the season’s star singers is a plus-size female impersonator, opera this fall is anything but a drag.”

on September 17, 2012 at 9:03 AM
Sister sister Sister sister

Like New Yorkers, opera tends to flee the city in summer.

on August 20, 2012 at 1:01 AM
The king who would be man The king who would be man

Sometimes an obscure opera is revived, and everyone hails a lost masterpiece.

on July 30, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Mind over matter Mind over matter

“Scientist, lover, gambler, unwed mother — the 1700s French intellectual Émilie du Châtelet was all these and more.”

on July 21, 2012 at 12:40 AM
From Hell From Hell

“About the only good thing that can be said for New York City Opera’s Orpheus, which opened Saturday night, is that it made the rest of the company’s feeble season seem scintillating by comparison.”

on May 14, 2012 at 12:07 AM