Nothing makes me feel better than the 1966 Salzburg Festival <em>Nozze</em> Nothing makes me feel better than the 1966 Salzburg Festival <em>Nozze</em>

This performance truly “never fails to lift my mood.”

Nothing makes me feel better than Roberta Peters in <em>Die Zauberflöte</em> Nothing makes me feel better than Roberta Peters in <em>Die Zauberflöte</em>

Other queens have been richer of voice or more dramatically compelling, but none I have ever heard succeeds in sounding something other than human.

Nothing makes me feel better than Conchita Supervia Nothing makes me feel better than Conchita Supervia

Conchita Supervia (1895-1936), Spanish mezzo, never fails to lift my spirits, in practically everything she sang.

What belongs to us What belongs to us

Kevin Ng sits down with PEN/Faulkner Award-winning novelist and critic Garth Greenwell to talk about sex, queerness, and the “promise of opera.”

The rain in Spain The rain in Spain

Wolf Trap Opera concluded its 2025 summer season last month with a production of Carmen that was vocally strong, though not entirely dramatically satisfying, amid challenging weather.

Act of contrition Act of contrition

The 25th anniversary revival of Dead Man Walking at San Francisco Opera is most moving in its quietest moments

Self-made woman Self-made woman

In the pursuit of clowning, Anthony Roth Costanzo’s Galas may have lost sight of “the seriousness of the theme.”

Corriam tutti a festeggiar! Corriam tutti a festeggiar!

Celebrate today the tenth anniversary of curated Parterre Box podcasts and the winding down of Chris’s Cache with two special Met guest performances of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro led by Carlo Maria Giulini and Georg Solti.

Marriage is what brings us together today Marriage is what brings us together today

Le nozze di Figaro in Santa Fe is a light and kindly revival while The Turn of the Screw is crisp and atmospheric

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

A performance recorded earlier this summer at The Santa Fe Opera

Breaking the box Breaking the box

Jacquelyn Stucker talks to Kevin Ng about repertoire, tearing down the Fach system, and what it takes to make music from baroque to George Benjamin her own.

Le nozze di Picasso Le nozze di Picasso

Wolf Trap Opera kicked off its summer season with an inventive production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro inspired by Pablo Picasso that showcased up-and-coming singers.

Konstantin companion Konstantin companion

parterre box highlights the livestreamed opening of this year’s Munich Opera Festival with a bit of tonight’s Don Giovanni, Konstantin Krimmel, in another Mozart opera

This summer I’m reading <em>Eleanor Steber: An Autobiography</em> This summer I’m reading <em>Eleanor Steber: An Autobiography</em>

A fascinating autobiography that delivers both on the diva anecdotes and on intelligent artistic observations about the singer’s life.

Concerto barocco Concerto barocco

Christopher Corwin on three stylish sopranos delighting audiences live in New York and on recording in a trio of new releases.

Down for the Count Down for the Count

An uneven new cast can’t dim the glow of Richard Eyre‘s incisive Le nozze di Figaro at the Met

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

A live broadcast from New York

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

A live broadcast from New York

Seville servants Seville servants

A muted and merry carousel ride out of feudalism in the Met’s production of Le nozze di Figaro

Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze di Figaro

A live broadcast from New York

Violent delights Violent delights

Some people were introduced to the art form listening to the Met’s NBC broadcasts on a glowing tube radio or watching acid-trip animated adaptations on the BBC or seeing Elmer Fudd sing, “Kill the Wabbit.” I came to opera through simulated drive-by shootings soundtracked by The Marriage of Figaro. 

Blue Saturday Blue Saturday

A grand concert from Angel Blue has Patrick Mack wondering, “where’s her crossover album?”

A most finely Huwn art A most finely Huwn art

Huw Montague Rendall’s new release Contemplation has been spinning in both my car and home players repeatedly for months now.

<em>The Women</em> are like that <em>The Women</em> are like that

A stylish and funny Così fan tutte at LA Opera is a pretty glam affair, according to Patrick Mack.