I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town!
Song matters
John Yohalem reviews pianist Steven Blier‘s warm, witty, and worldly autobiography, From Ear to Ear.
State of siege
An amateurish production of Le siège de Corinthe, combined with heavy-handed conducting, at Pesaro weakens the defenses of one of Rossini‘s most topical operas.
Broadcasts / Live Chat
Adriana Lecouvreur
Ermonela Jaho sings the title role in a live broadcast from Vienna opposite Elina Garanca and Luciano Ganci
Streaming and discussion start Sep 5 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Four Last Songs
Paweł Kapuła conducts Natalya Romaniw in a live performance from the Royal Albert Hall
Streaming and discussion start Sep 9 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Last Night of the Proms
Sakari Oramo conducts Nicky Spence and Yuja Wang in a live performance from Royal Albert Hall
Streaming and discussion start Sep 12 at 2:00 PM
Comment
Jean de Nivelle
The forces of Palazzetto Bru Zane present Cyrille Dubois and Mélissa Petit in a performance of Delibes's opera recorded in Budapest in January
Streaming and discussion start Sep 19 at 1:30 PM
Comment
Simon Boccanegra
George Petean, Eleonora Buratto, Freddie De Tommaso, and Alexander Vinogradov star in a performance recorded last April in Munich
Streaming and discussion start Sep 26 at 1:30 PM
Comment
Sasha Cooke
Sasha Cooke performs an eclectic mix of songs by American, German, and Russian composers in a recital with Myra Huang recorded last fall at the Park Avenue Armory
Streaming and discussion start Sep 26 at 8:00 PM
Comment
Recent Stories
Broadcast
Verdi Requiem / Salzburg Festival
A performance recorded two weeks ago in Salzburg with Riccardo Muti conducting Iwona Sobotka, Marianne Crebassa, Michael Spyres, and Maharram Huseynov
Streamed August 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM
14 comments
Voi foste, io vi perdei
Christopher Corwin remembers the late soprano Ileana Cotrubas — and shares some archival recordings of her in Bellini, Tchaikovsky, Leoncavallo, and Gounod.
Broadcast
The Met Orchestra plays Mahler / BBC Proms
Yannick Nézet‐Séguin conducts Joyce DiDonato in Rückert-Lieder, as well as Symphony No. 4 and Kaija Saariaho's Lumière et pesanteur live from Royal Albert Hall
Streamed August 27, 2026 at 1:00 PM
4 comments
Wet ‘n wild
Parterre Box invites you to cool off with a dip in the lake alongside Sonya Yoncheva and Pavel Černoch in Rusalka.
Some filth or dementia from Darby Fegan
What is more demented than a thrilling performance of Strauss’s Elektra?
By Darby Fegan
109 comments
Broadcast
The Met Orchestra plays Strauss / BBC Proms
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Elza van den Heever in the final scene from Salome as well as the Rosenkavalier Suite and Ein Heldenleben
Streamed August 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM
1 comment
Broadcast
L’elisir d’amore / Teatro la Fenice
Gilda Fiume and Valerio Borgioni lead a live broadcast from Venice
Streamed August 26, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Comment
Some filth or dementia from Sanford
This Strauss is demented in the best way possible.
By Sanford
88 comments
Here is who I am now
Julia Bullock on ten years of living with the life and artistry of Joséphine Baker before Paris performances of Perle Noire: Meditations for Joséphine
Some filth or dementia from Ben Miller
They should sell pay-per-view tickets to this like WWE.
Broadcast
Rodelinda / Santa Fe Opera
Harry Bicket conducts a cast lead by Lucy Crowe in a performance recorded earlier this summer in Santa Fe
Streamed August 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM
1 comment
Broadcast
Beethoven Symphony No. 9 / Boston Symphony Orchestra
Gustavo Gimeno conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a live performance from Tanglewood
featuring Mané Galoyan, Zoie Reams, Ben Bliss, and
Soloman Howard
Streamed August 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Comment
Avert your AIs
Bayreuth’s AI-powered “Ring 100010110” marred a first-rate cast and orchestra with nightmarish visuals and horrid dramaturgy.
Broadcast
Knoxville: Summer of 1915 / BBC Proms
Jonathon Heyward conducts Angel Blue in a live broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall
Streamed August 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM
5 comments
Broadcast
Hannover Opera Gala / Hannover Maschpark
Michael Spyres, Caterina Piva, and Ludovic Tézier perform excerpts by Bizet, Cilea, Verdi, Puccini, and more, live from Hannover
Streamed August 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM
7 comments
Broadcast
Piotr Beczala and Kathryn Lewek / Santender International Festival
José Miguel Pérez-Sierra conducts Piotr Beczala and Kathyrn Lewek in favorite arias and duets live from Santander.
Streamed August 22, 2026 at 1:00 PM
3 comments
Broadcast
Excerpts from Nixon in China / Boston Symphony Orchestra
Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson star in a performance conducted by Andris Nelsons and recorded at Tanglewood last month.
Streamed August 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Comment
Broadcast
Das Lied von der Erde / BBC Symphony Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier conducts Jamie Barton and Clay Hilley in a live broadcast from Royal Albert Hall
Streamed August 21, 2026 at 2:00 PM
7 comments
Some filth or dementia from Remko Jas
To make a success of the Empress in Frau ohne Schatten, it is not enough to be a fine singer and a great actress.
By Remko Jas
172 comments
Broadcast
Der Prinz von Homburg / Salzburg Festival
Ingo Metzmacher conducts Hanz Werner Henze's opera live from the Salzburg Festival
Streamed August 20, 2026 at 1:30 PM
2 comments
The kids are alright
Though, really, the young artists of the Merola Opera Program were more than alright in their annual showcase.
Troy and Troy again
For those with Odyssey fever, this week’s Grand Tier Grab Bag item features a performance of another ancient epic: Les Troyens with Russell Thomas.