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.

Big man in town Big man in town

A strong revival of Falstaff at the Los Angeles Opera proves a fitting farewell vehicle for Music Director James Conlon.

We’re the kids in America We’re the kids in America

Needing a Mozart palate-cleanser after the recent misbegotten Marriage of Figaro, I went back more than two decades for a Houston Così fan Tutte featuring then-rising Americans Christine Goerke, Joyce Di Donato, Richard Croft, and Nathan Gunn as the confused lovers.

Dinosaur surviving the crunch Dinosaur surviving the crunch

I have a confession and you may need to sit down for it: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita was one of the gateway drugs to my eventual opera fandom.

Stratas in the Sixties Stratas in the Sixties

Teresa Stratas turned 83 yesterday and Trove Thursday features one of the recent past’s most interesting yet frustrating artists in two rare broadcasts.

Fascinating but frustrating Fascinating but frustrating

Now, through the auspices of the Metropolitan Opera, we have Sonya Yoncheva—and if anything, the diva-dom has been kicked up a notch!

Moody “Blue” Moody “Blue”

The Glimmerglass Festival premiered a searing examination of race, identity, and the fraught relationship between communities of color and law enforcement. Blue, with a score by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Tazewell Thompson.

Cryptic Cryptic

Hearing Lucas Meachem perform Kindertotenlieder in the crypt of Harlem’s Church of the Intercession was a heart-warming, and ultimately uplifting experience.

Take the long way Rome Take the long way Rome

Russell Thomas’s opening aria, “Del piu sublime soglio” displayed an intense attention to the text and some surprisingly beautiful piano phrasing that I’ve never heard risked before and it brought wonder and gooseflesh.

Dames Dames

A double-barreled “Trove Thursday” birthday salute to Renée Fleming who turns 60 today.

Over the garden wall Over the garden wall

Renée Fleming makes her belated “Trove Thursday” debut as Sandrina in a rare early performance of Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one Stop me if you’ve heard this one

Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, and a slew of their members of court are hanging out in the afterlife…

Aged in blood Aged in blood

Simply put, Christine Goerke is a stupendous Elektra.

Cherubino jumps the shark Cherubino jumps the shark

Homer, inspired by many a muse, sang not of sequels to his Iliad.

Everything is illuminated Everything is illuminated

Few new operas have received the near-unanimous acclaim that has greeted Written on Skin since its first performance at the 2012 Aix-en-Provence Festival.

My name is Barbiere My name is Barbiere

James Conlon, Music Director for the LA Opera, often does the pre-game lecture in the huge open space on the second floor lobby of the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion and it’s almost always a standing room only crowd.

Drop dead diva Drop dead diva

My first experience with John Corigliano’s music was in high school with the ear and mind blowing score he wrote for Ken Russell’s film Altered States.