Antonio Pappano is a great opera conductor Antonio Pappano is a great opera conductor

Antonio Pappano‘s versatility in both German and Italian repertoire and beyond is both rare and impressive.

Dimitri Mitropoulos was a great opera conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos was a great opera conductor

Whether an opera by Puccini, Verdi, Wagner, Strauss, or Berg, Dimitri Mitropoulos brought to the podium a total understanding and love for each score he touched.

The Grand Salzburg Hotel The Grand Salzburg Hotel

A.J. Goldmann on the Salzburg Festival’s revolving doors, both in its administration and in its delectable production of Il viaggio a Reims.

Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Wozzeck</em> Nothing makes me feel better than <em>Wozzeck</em>

Wozzeck. Yes, really.

Jaundiced view Jaundiced view

Richard Lynn bravely asks what we’re hoping to get out of the continued Peter Gelb-bashing — and whether our expectations of him have ever been fair

¡Sí, se puede! ¡Sí, se puede!

The world premiere of Dolores and Charpentier‘s David and Jonathan bring the heat to West Edge Opera’s 2025 Festival.

Not an asset to the abbey Not an asset to the abbey

Francesco Filidei’s new opera The Name of the Rose struggles to bridge the past and the present in Milan

Little girls get bigger every day Little girls get bigger every day

Elza van den Heever and Peter Mattei (and the stage elevator) elevate an assertive, if not definitive, new Salome at the Met

Goddess in three persons Goddess in three persons

Patrick Mack looks back on “a great, nay, historic evening,” Renata Scotto‘s 1981 performance of Il trittico, now newly available on Met Opera on Demand.

Nosedive Nosedive

It’s not so much that I hated the Met Opera’s Grounded. I’m just not convinced that it should have been an opera.

The age of <em>Innocence</em> The age of <em>Innocence</em>

The score for Innocence was menacing yet comforting, and, essentially, violent and peaceful at the same time

Special baby Special baby

On this day in 1977 Alban Berg‘s Lulu premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in the as-yet incomplete 2 act version.

Hoppscotch Hoppscotch

On this day in 1959 Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere (in English)

Ohne Ziel, ohne Rast Ohne Ziel, ohne Rast

Instead of following the story, we in the audience spend most of the evening thinking “What?? Why is that happening?”

The men who rule Ramrod The men who rule Ramrod

It’s been eight decades since darling Aix-en-Provence was under attack—its last formal invasion, at least by non-operagoers, was in 1942 during the German occupation of southern France. But on Friday, the town was besieged once again by its annual festival, with two dazzling premieres that examined the cruel and constructive dimensions of war and revolution.

A lady has responsibilities A lady has responsibilities

Happy 58th birthday to actress and singer Vanessa Williams.

Hopelessly human Hopelessly human

The Boston Symphony and Alban Berg’s “Wir arme Leut” spread musical riches at Carnegie Hall.

Seria effect Seria effect

While it must be admitted that Elza van den Heever doesn’t have an ideally warm and agile Handel voice, she evidenced fierce control over her instrument and skillfully built a powerful portrait of the courageous Rodelida fighting for her survival.

Sachs appeal Sachs appeal

Last night’s cast of Die Meistersinger at the Met, dominated by the irascible, unbeatable duo of Michael Volle and Johannes Martin Kränzle as Sachs and Beckmesser, did much to enliven Otto Schenk’s creaky, nearly 30-year-old production.

Two by two Two by two

Were Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne 20th century opera’s ultimate same-sex pairing?

You maid me love you You maid me love you

On this day in 1963, the musical Tovarich opened at the Broadway Theatre, starring Vivien Leigh and Jean Pierre Aumont.

From Lear to eternity From Lear to eternity

Ninety-five years ago, Evelyn Lear was born on January 8 in Brooklyn, and Trove Thursday remembers the soprano with one of her earliest successes: Schreker’s Die Gezeichneten co-starring her husband Thomas Stewart, Helmut Krebs and Franz Crass.

A soldier’s play A soldier’s play

On this day in 1959 Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck had its Metropolitan Opera premiere.

Witch hunt Witch hunt

Later this month Asmik Grigorian will star in Covent Garden’s new Jenufa, which Trove Thursday anticipates presenting the acclaimed Lithuanian soprano in a broadcast from 2014 of Tchaikovsky’s rare opera The Enchantress (Charodeyka).