I’m never gonna dance again
A starry cast is hampered by Christof Loy‘s dour production of Rusalka in Barcelona
Bryn da noise
Bryn Terfel‘s presence on an unfortunate broadcast of Tosca from Tanglewood last week prompts us at the Box to share clips of his work over the past few weeks
Sleepwalkers awake
La sonnambula at Teatro Nuovo overcomes uneven casting to highlight the many charms of Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece
Talk of the Town
Change my mind about how Orfeo should end
By giving Orfeo ed Euridice a happy ending, Gluck ruined a wonderful score.
Broadcasts / Live Chat
Nozze istriane
A performance of Antonio Smareglia's rare opera recorded last year in Croatia
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Gianni Schicchi and Cavalleria Rusticana
A live video broadcast from the Verbier festival starring Bryn Terfel and Ying Fang
The Latest
Marc Minkowski conducts a performance recorded last week at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
Suddenly Mozart’s rare early opera Mitridate, re di Ponto has become popular. Anticipating a Salzburg Festival performance on 4 August, Chris’s Cache offers two recent broadcasts, one from Boston, the other from Montpellier.
Yes, Ermonela Jaho is a compelling swooner. But is she a great singer? I have yet to be convinced!
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Performances of Pittori fiamminghi and Madama Butterfly in picturesque Castell’Arquato were a fine way to honor Luigi Illica, the city’s native son
A new opera by Sivan Eldar and Ganavya Doraiswami from the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
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Featured
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Bryn da noise
Bryn Terfel‘s presence on an unfortunate broadcast of Tosca from Tanglewood last week prompts us at the Box to share clips of his work over the past few weeks
Podcast / Chris's Cache
Mad about Mitridate
Suddenly Mozart’s rare early opera Mitridate, re di Ponto has become popular. Anticipating a Salzburg Festival performance on 4 August, Chris’s Cache offers two recent broadcasts, one from Boston, the other from Montpellier.
Performance Reviews
Sleepwalkers awake
La sonnambula at Teatro Nuovo overcomes uneven casting to highlight the many charms of Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece
Performance Reviews
Visible storage
Performances of Pittori fiamminghi and Madama Butterfly in picturesque Castell’Arquato were a fine way to honor Luigi Illica, the city’s native son
Performance Reviews
The bodies keep score
Music for New Bodies at Lincoln Center’s Running AMOC* Festival proves Matthew Aucoin really is everything he’s made out to be
Grand Tier Grab Bag
Schön geschmückt und ganz allein!
With the 2025 Bayreuth Festival beginning next week, Grand Tier Grab Bag spotlights the Eva of its opening Meistersinger: Christina Nilsson
Parterre Box over the last few years has become the MOST USELESS website.
Music for New Bodies at Lincoln Center’s Running AMOC* Festival proves Matthew Aucoin really is everything he’s made out to be
Jake Heggie writes operas like a Restoration Hardware couch—soft, expensive, and allergic to mess.
Christian Thielemann conducts a live broadcast from Berlin
The musical virtues of Anna Moffo have heretofore eluded me.
Talk of the Town
The Talk of the Town
Change my mind about how Orfeo should end
By giving Orfeo ed Euridice a happy ending, Gluck ruined a wonderful score.
The Talk of the Town
Change my mind about Ermonela Jaho
Yes, Ermonela Jaho is a compelling swooner. But is she a great singer? I have yet to be convinced!
The Talk of the Town
Change my mind about Parterre Box
Parterre Box over the last few years has become the MOST USELESS website.
The Talk of the Town
Change my mind about Jake Heggie’s operas
Jake Heggie writes operas like a Restoration Hardware couch—soft, expensive, and allergic to mess.
The Talk of the Town
Change my mind about Anna Moffo
The musical virtues of Anna Moffo have heretofore eluded me.
The Talk of the Town
Change my mind about the Toscanini Bohème
It’s like making love with someone whose rap never ceases—and includes “helpful suggestions” about how you can be improving your game.
With the 2025 Bayreuth Festival beginning next week, Grand Tier Grab Bag spotlights the Eva of its opening Meistersinger: Christina Nilsson
Jacquelyn Stucker talks to Kevin Ng about repertoire, tearing down the Fach system, and what it takes to make music from baroque to George Benjamin her own.
It’s like making love with someone whose rap never ceases—and includes “helpful suggestions” about how you can be improving your game.
Chris’s Cache would argue that Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery is a much more enjoyable alternative to the pandemic-canceled Barrie Kosky The Fiery Angel
