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opera from a certain point of view
Aix and you shall receive

PC: Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

Aix and you shall receive

Mesdames et Messieurs, this summer's broadcasts from the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence begin this weekend!


Graphic depicting characters from Opera Lafayette's 2026-27 season. Text: What's the craziest thing you've done for love? Opera Lafayette subscriptions on sale now. Explore now.

Crazy in love

For their 32nd season, Opera Lafayette asks: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love? Artistic Director Patrick Quigley invites us to revel in beauty, wit, and unapologetic charisma across three productions presented in New York City and Washington, DC.

From the modern world premiere of Rameau’s Les Surprises de l’Amour, to a musical masquerade where the music (and mystery) are an arm’s length away, to a deep dive into Mozart via Metastasio’s La clemenza di Tito, Opera Lafayette continues to live up to their status as the nation’s period opera company. Subscriptions are on sale now!

Explore the season and access the best available seats today!

**EXCLUSIVE OFFER**
Save 10% on Subscriptions / Offer Expires July 9!
Promo Code: PB10

Explore Now


Extravagant minimalism

Ahead of his new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten, Barrie Kosky chats with Kevin Ng in Aix about pretty much everything — except the details of his new Frau.

Extravagant minimalism

Director Barrie Kosky / Jan Windszus

Goodnight, Irene

Grand Tier Grab Bag features the American Zwischenfach mezzo Irene Roberts ahead of an eclectic season of Wagner.

Goodnight, Irene

Irene Roberts as Kundry in PArsifal at the Bayerische Staatsoper, March 2024 / Photo: W. Hösl

Reviews

Beyond the valley of the gods

Photo: Monika Rittershaus

Beyond the valley of the gods

The Bayerische Staatsoper’s Ring cycle scores another triumph with Tobias Kratzer’s take on Die Walküre.

Aegean in place

Anna Pirozzi in Medea at the ancient theater at Epidaurus AFP Photo

Aegean in place

Greek National Opera's Medea in the ancient theater at Epidaurus is an intermittently rewarding exercise in nostalgia.

Ma queer immortelle

Photo: Cory Weaver

Ma queer immortelle

San Francisco Opera hosts an exuberant tribute to queerness past and present.

Queening out

Photo: Monica Rittershaus

Queening out

Brett Dean's Of One Blood casts a well-trodden Tudor tale in a poignant, new light.

Talk of the Town

Giuseppe Patanè was a great opera conductor

I think Patanè did far more than just hold it together: he did full honor to Verdi.

Giuseppe Patanè was a great opera conductor

Rafael Kubelik was a great opera conductor

Opera conductors … my favorite subject!

Rafael Kubelik was a great opera conductor

Herbert von Karajan was a great opera conductor

He has conducted some of my favorite opera recordings.

Herbert von Karajan was a great opera conductor

Ernest Ansermet was a great opera conductor

Although Ernest Ansermet is most often associated with orchestral music, his 1964 recording of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is still my favorite.

Ernest Ansermet was a great opera conductor

Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a great opera conductor

Historically, conductors were often viewed as rigid, authoritarian figures. Yannick Nézet-Séguin completely subverts this stereotype.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin is a great opera conductor

Photo: Chris Lee

Broadcasts & Live Chats

For you tender shut ins who prefer opera from a distance, Parterre Box hosts live chats during broadcasts and livestreams.

Are you an opera newbie lookin’ to listen and learn? Or maybe an overly articulate know-it-all wanting to indulge your fantasy of an anonymous 12-way with people who couldn’t possibly understand you?

Well that must suck. But you’re welcome to join us anyway.

In the spirit of AOL circa 1998, here are some upcoming chances to clique and claque:

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Do you have questions, tips, suggestions, gripes, or story ideas?
Email us if you must: [email protected]

Ciao for now!
Nick Scholl
Publisher, Parterre Box