Lady in waiting

opera from a certain point of view

Marta Torbidoni as Norma at Teatro alla Scala / Photo: Brescia e Amisano

Grand Tier Grab Bag

One Italian soprano continues to save the day in bel canto roles at La Scala; this week Parterre Box features Marta Torbidoni.

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Reviews

Photo: © Brescia e Amisano | Teatro alla Scala

Mist opportunity

Lucia di Lammermoor at La Scala, starring Rosa Feola, proves as airless as this summer's heatwaves.

Photo: Monika Rittershaus

Aix tremendae, salva me

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence confronts the living and the dead — and its own future — through audacious productions and an intimate world premiere.

Photo: Thomas Aurin

Tsar power

Zany gags keep Zar und Zimmermann zipping along at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Talk of the Town

Antonio Pappano is a great opera conductor Antonio Pappano's versatility in both German and Italian repertoire and beyond is both rare and impressive.	Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Boston. (Photo by Winslow Townson) Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
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.
Rudolf Kempe was a great opera conductor I am once again going to laud the classic Rudolf Kempe commercial recording of Lohengrin (which I have lauded overall) for its conducting.
Roger Norrington was a great opera conductor Roger Norrington conducted Rossini's Semiramide in Pesaro '94 and made the Orchestra part of the drama in a way I still have never heard duplicated in a Bel Canto opera.
Fabio Luisi is a great opera conductor Many years ago, when the Met was deciding who the next principal conductor/music director was going to be, it seemed to be a tie between YN-S and Fabio Luisi.

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:

Tue

Mozart Requiem

Raphaël Pichon conducts Mélissa Petit, Beth Taylor, Duke Kim, and Alex Rosen in a performance recorded the week before last at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

Streaming and discussion start today at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Thu

The Excursions of Mr. Brou?ek

Robert Jindra conducts a live broadcast of Janá?ek’s opera from the Bregenz Festival

Streaming and discussion start Jul 23 at 1:30 PM Eastern Time

Fri

Falstaff

Luca Salsi sings the title role for the first time in a performance recorded last week in Barcelona

Streaming and discussion start Jul 24 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Sat

Beethoven No. 9

The opening of the 2026 Festival season featuring Christian Thielemann leading Elza van den Heever, Christa Mayer, Piotr Beczala, and Georg Zeppenfeld in a slight delay from Bayreuth

Streaming and discussion start Jul 25 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Jul
26

Rienzi

Nathalie Stutzmann conducts a live performance of the first-ever Rienzi at Bayreuth

Streaming and discussion start Jul 26 at 11:05 AM Eastern Time

Jul
26

Les Vêpres siciliennes

Daniele Rustioni conducts Karine Deshayes, John Osborn, Insik Choi, and Michele Pertusi in a performance recorded at this summer’s Aix-en-Provence Festival.

Streaming and discussion start Jul 26 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Jul
27

Das Rheingold

Christian Thielemann conducts a performance in slight delay from Bayreuth featuring Michael Volle, Jochen Schmeckenbacher, and Anna Kissjudit

Streaming and discussion start Jul 27 at 2:03 PM Eastern Time

Jul
28

Die Walküre

Christian Thielemann conducts Klaus Florian Vogt, Elza van den Heever, Camilla Nylund, and Michael Volle in a slightly delayed performance from Bayreuth

Streaming and discussion start Jul 28 at 2:03 PM Eastern Time

Jul
30

Siegfried

Christian Thielemann conducts Klaus Florian Vogt, Camilla Nylund, and Michael Volle in a slightly delayed performance from Bayreuth

Streaming and discussion start Jul 30 at 2:03 PM Eastern Time

Aug
1

Götterdämmerung

Christian Thielemann conducts Klaus Florian Vogt, Camilla Nylund, and Jochen Schmeckenbacher in a slightly delayed performance from Bayreuth

Streaming and discussion start Aug 1 at 2:03 PM Eastern Time

Aug
2

Ariadne auf Naxos

Manfred Honeck conducts Kate Lindsey, Christina Nilsson, Eric Cutler, and Ziyi Dai in a live broadcast from Salzburg

Streaming and discussion start Aug 2 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

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Ciao for now!
Nick Scholl
Publisher, Parterre Box

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