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opera from a certain point of view
The art of the possible

Photo: Brandon Patoc / The New York Philharmonic

The art of the possible

Ahead of his first season as the Music & Artistic Director of the New York Philharmonic, how much longer can — and should — Gustavo Dudamel stay quiet about the situation in his native Venezuela?

Heaven is a place on earth

Bass Pol Plançon

Heaven is a place on earth

As part of Bass Month at the Box, Niel Rishoi considers six versions of "Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni" from La sonnambula for Perspectives on an Aria.

Drink me

Michael Spyres in L'elisir d'amore at the Liceu in Barcelona / Photo: Antoni Bofill

Drink me

Parterre Box answers the question, "how can a singer do both Tristan and Nemorino within a few month of each other?" with a clip of a recent role debut from Michael Spyres.

Once I was a schlepper, now I’m Miss Mazeppa

Once I was a schlepper, now I’m Miss Mazeppa

John Danaher on the world-premiere recording of Clémence de Grandval's wild and worthy Mazeppa, the latest release from the operatic archaeologists at Palazzetto Bru Zane.

Curioser and curioser

Curioser and curioser

Three more months of The Talk of the Town means that we need your most sizzling takes!

Reviews

Rags to riches

Photo by Elman Studio

Rags to riches

In its first production since departing the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera presents a new adaptation of "King of Ragtime" Scott Joplin’s opera Treemonisha.

The company of wolves

The company of wolves

Matthias Pintscher’s Nuit sans aube at the Opéra Comique conjures up plenty of atmosphere — but not much else.

By spirit alone

Photo by Stefan Cohen

By spirit alone

A sublime Reginald Mobley and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra are a balm for troubled times in a program of baroque selections and spirituals.

Pearl Jam

Photo by Yassine El Mansouri / Elman Studio

Pearl Jam

Washington Concert Opera returned to its roots with a delightful performance of Georges Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles.

An embarrassment of riches

An embarrassment of riches

A David Lang premiere at the New York Philharmonic brings a wealth of musical delights — and bodes well for Gustavo Dudamel's leadership.

Talk of the Town

A favorite bass performance from Eli Jacobson

This bass aria "Sous les pieds d'une femme" from Gounod's La Reine du Saba used to be a concert favorite

A favorite bass performance from Eli Jacobson

A favorite bass performance from La Grunowa

Tancredi Pasero is so noble in mien and rich-voiced here, a perfect complement to Caniglia's earthy Leonora who honestly charts the movement from despair to fervent, transcendent faith in this duet.

A favorite bass performance from La Grunowa

A favorite bass performance from Cornelia

I don't know if I'll ever hear as great a performance as René Pape's Gurnemanz.

A favorite bass performance from Cornelia

A favorite bass performance from Bere Wendriner

Cesare Siepi and Giulio Neri give a reference rendition of the Grand Inquisitor scene.

A favorite bass performance from Bere Wendriner

A favorite bass performance from Ivy Lin

Not much to say here. Legendary bass Mark Reizen was born in the USSR and thus never got to tour much to the west.

A favorite bass performance from Ivy Lin

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Ciao for now!
Nick Scholl
Publisher, Parterre Box