The kids are alright The kids are alright

Though, really, the young artists of the Merola Opera Program were more than alright in their annual showcase.

Joie de vivre Joie de vivre

Erin Morley, Lawrence Brownlee, and Malcolm Martineau put on a jolly good show at the 92nd Street Y.

I wanna be the one to walk in the sun I wanna be the one to walk in the sun

Two recent Paminas feature in concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Drink me Drink me

Chris’s Cache offers Nadine Sierra and Xabier Anduaga, the stars of the upcoming production of La sonnambula, in a performance of another favorite bel canto opera

Cask in the glory Cask in the glory

A North American debut of a respectable French Baroque ensemble, an ebullient presentation of La fille du régiment, and an afternoon soiree in Wine Country proved to be the hottest (yet affordable!) tickets around here this Summer.

Promising young women Promising young women

Ahead of her return to the Met, soprano Corinne Winters chats with Kevin Ng about her repertoire, overcoming biases about her voice type, and how she plans to play “energetic, young women” as long as she can.

Bachelor party Bachelor party

It may be blasphemy to admit—particularly this month—but usually I can either take or leave Donizetti’s serious operas. However, I love the composer in comic mode, so Chris’s Cache runs with that sentiment in offering three recordings of Don Pasquale.

A favorite Donizetti performance from James Grant A favorite Donizetti performance from James Grant

In 1972, when I was 12 years old, my mother took me to the Salzburg Festival.

Pirate lives Pirate lives

The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players are celebrating their 50th Anniversary Season presenting Ruddigore (last month), The Pirates of Penzance (first two weekends in January), and Iolanthe (on its way in April).

Witchery and bitchery Witchery and bitchery

Double double, toil and trouble, y’all, and happy spooky season from Slaylem. (It’s like Salem, but fun.)

Found in mint condition Found in mint condition

Only by knowing what went on around the great composers is it possible to truly understand why they are great and why their operas have come down to us (and why dozens of other titles have been left behind).

Contents fragile Contents fragile

Perhaps the greatest souvenir of her art there is.

Giving head voice Giving head voice

Anna Bolena might be the earliest of Donizetti’s operas that might have name recognition to a non-specialist audience.

Tuckered out Tuckered out

This Sunday marked a muted return of the Richard Tucker Foundation Gala, which had the dubious distinction of the fourth edition not to feature a prizewinner and perhaps the first not to provide complete orchestral and choral accompaniment for its performers.

It takes a fairy to make something pretty It takes a fairy to make something pretty

Teatro Nuovo took a spirited journey of rediscovery into the valley of forgotten operas and resurrected Federico and Luigi Ricci’s 1850 opera buffa Crispino e la Comare last Thursday at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

A summer of solace A summer of solace

From Christian martyrs to naughty fairies, Teatro Nuovo will explore the tragic and comic sides of 19th century Italian Opera.

So a fool returns to his Philly So a fool returns to his Philly

Updating opera settings is, of course, expected; I’d wager in most houses more often than not it’s now the norm. Still, few in my experience have the specificity and local immediacy of Don Pasquale at the Academy of Vocal Arts.

The color of Monet The color of Monet

When I saw that Richard Bonynge AC CBE, conductor and musicologist supreme, had authored a book titled Chalet Monet about the home he shared with his wife, La Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, in Les Avants, Switzerland I practically had to wipe my chin.

‘Elisir’ not quite ‘rara qualita’ ‘Elisir’ not quite ‘rara qualita’

On paper, the Met’s revival of L’elisir d’amore looked like a lovely evening.  And at times it was—a few scenes hinted at what it could be and what it might yet become.

The sense of dramatic thrust The sense of dramatic thrust

Soprano Lydia Grindatto confirmed the fine impression she had made at Giargiari vocal competition with a charismatic, thoroughly inhabited performance that showed careful preparation in every aspect.

A fantastic four A fantastic four

These are my findings and opinions (and I welcome rebuttals)!

Silent treatment Silent treatment

It is perhaps a misperception to suggest that Die Schweigsame Frau is stronger in the uncut version.

Soaring on multicolored wings Soaring on multicolored wings

Eleanora Buratto at this fully matured point of her career has a warm, creamy full lyric soprano that has the roundness and sweet warmth of a Freni but can also expand into the spinto power of a Tebaldi. 

Mad and madder Mad and madder

With La Scala’s plan to open on December 7 with a new Lucia di Lammermoor thwarted, Trove Thursday sets its Wayback Machine to nearly 50 years ago to present two of the 20th century’s greatest madwomen—Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills—denounced by Plàcido Domingo and Alfredo Kraus respectively, with the former pair consoled by Kurt Moll‘s luxurious Raimundo.