New blood New blood

I was shocked to realize I hadn’t seen Don Giovanni at the Met since Michael Grandage’s stultifying production opened in 2011.

L’Heure exquise L’Heure exquise

Although she didn’t sing that eponymous song by Reynaldo Hahn at Weill Recital Hall Thursday evening, Sabine Devieilhe did offer an “exquisite hour” of early 20th century French songs.

Down for the Comte Down for the Comte

We close 2018 with Le Comte Ory with an enviable nearly all-Italian cast of prime-time Rossini specialists: Mariella Devia, Cecila Bartoli, Ewa Podles, William Matteuzzi, Claudio Desderi and Pietro Spagnoli.

Man of the camellias Man of the camellias

Tuesday the Met unveils its sixth new production of La Traviata since moving to Lincoln Center. 

The unusual suspects The unusual suspects

Mad Scenes and Exit Arias:  The Death of the New York City Opera and the Future of Opera in America provides ample fodder for the legions of amateur opera sleuths seeking to confirm their theory of “Who Killed City Opera?”

More than words More than words

This week’s star-spangled “Trove Thursday” offers the second crazy-quilt installment of divas in the wrong language.

Talking to John Raitt, Part One Talking to John Raitt, Part One

How did you first grow interested in singing?

Twist of fate Twist of fate

The Verdi Chorus celebrated their 35th anniversary with their spring concert weekend entitled The Force of Destiny last Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

Laughing song Laughing song

It can be confidently asserted that Edita Gruberova is one opera’s most gifted comediennes. 

Frau Minne Frau Minne

“Trove Thursday” presents a live Tristan 2 concert featuring one of my favorite dramatic sopranos. Gertrude Grob-Prandl.

BASTA: Evan can wait BASTA: Evan can wait

Weekends at Aura Bar on 53rd and Ninth are typically big money makers for the morons who run the place. Jonjon and Yoni.

Carlos at the Bat Carlos at the Bat

“Trove Thursday” celebrates with Carlos Kleiber conducting Johann Strauss, Jr.’s Die Fledermaus.

Abendstern Abendstern

“Trove Thursday” celebrates the thrilling Finnish soprano Karita Matilla in the ultimate diva role.

Back to the beach Back to the beach

Were La Rondine an IQ test, I’d be in trouble.

Yes, we have no Banat Yes, we have no Banat

In The Gypsy Baron (Der Zigeunerbaron), currently (through Sunday) enjoying a revival by the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater, you get Strauss waltzes and patriotic marches.

The gala lilies are in bloom again The gala lilies are in bloom again

Saturday night the Los Angeles Opera threw itself a party.

The Importance of Being Rudolph The Importance of Being Rudolph

Since Gilbert and Sullivan remain constant in the light-opera repertory, somewhere between Fledermaus and Les Mis in popular esteem, there must be good reasons their final collaboration, The Grand Duke, is seldom revived.

There arose such a clatter There arose such a clatter

With Christmas Eve 2016 falling on a Saturday, the Met offers contrasting orchestral splendors at noon and 6 p.m.

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. 

Wagner, where you least expect it Wagner, where you least expect it

“Trove Thursday” offers a Der Fliegende Holländer from New York City Opera featuring the underrated American soprano Johanna Meier.

Drunk in love Drunk in love

According to my taste, Die Fledermaus is an intoxicating opera

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.

Sweet bird Sweet bird

Anna Moffo made some of the most entrancing records ever. Their appeal is to “voice fanciers.” (I understand. We’re a despised group.) But Moffo’s best work renders us helpless. 

Everytime we say goodbye Everytime we say goodbye

Gather around while I play Ghost of New Year’s Eve past!