Un ballo in maschera

Un ballo in maschera / Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Antonio Poli, Chiara Isotton, and Bogdan Baciu lead a live broadcast from the Florence May Festival

Streamed May 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM
A favorite Verdi performance from TC A favorite Verdi performance from TC

Victoria de los Ángeles has always been my Violetta of choice, a portrayal that never ceases to move me.

A favorite Verdi performance from Anna Netrebko A favorite Verdi performance from Anna Netrebko

I feel that the best years of Maria Callas’s vocalità, when we hear such a unique freedom and generosity in her singing, were captured in her early recordings.

Iolanta

Iolanta / Opéra Normandie Rouen

Mané Galoyan and Bogdan Volkov lead a performance of Tchaikovsky’s opera recorded in Rouen in March

Streamed May 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM
La fille du régiment

La fille du régiment / Metropolitan Opera

A performance recorded last fall in New York

Streamed May 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A favorite Verdi performance from Armerjacquino A favorite Verdi performance from Armerjacquino

Before the screams of horror begin, it says ‘favorite’, not best.

La traviata

La traviata / Metropolitan Opera

Rosa Feola leads a live broadcast from New York

Streamed May 8, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Un paio in tre Un paio in tre

Christopher Corwin and Andrew Lokay provide dual perspectives on the National Symphony Orchestra‘s performances of Puccini’s triple-bill.

A favorite Verdi performance from Remko Jas A favorite Verdi performance from Remko Jas

Elisabeth Grümmer was, of course, very good at Wagnerian prayers, but she also shines in this Verdi prayer.

Don’t tread on Marie Don’t tread on Marie

Boston Lyric Opera’s Revolutionary War-set Daughter of the Regiment prioritizes accessibility without losing its charm.

A favorite Verdi performance from Ben Miller A favorite Verdi performance from Ben Miller

The dictionary definition of Kuntenserven.

As a hero going to conquest As a hero going to conquest

A joint BeethovenAdams program conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk suggests a way forward for the embattled Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Rizzin’ to the occasion Rizzin’ to the occasion

Parterre Box features the Met’s current Eugene Onegin, Iurii Samoilov, in a performance of Rossini ahead of a return to Pesaro this summer.

A favorite Verdi performance from Timothy Gray A favorite Verdi performance from Timothy Gray

When I was a fledgling opera enthusiast, professors at a small-town Wisconsin college routinely travelled to Chicago for Lyric Opera performances.

‘Tis almost fairy time ‘Tis almost fairy time

Curtis Opera and a charming cast of young singers cast a spell with their beguiling production of Britten‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

A favorite Verdi performance from Darby Fegan A favorite Verdi performance from Darby Fegan

Anna Tomowa-Sintow, “Ernani Involami,” from the MET Centenial Gala, 1983.

They don’t stoop to conquer They don’t stoop to conquer

The countertenors conquer the day in Handel‘s Giulio Cesare in Egitto at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

A favorite Verdi performance from CKurwenal A favorite Verdi performance from CKurwenal

Like probably all of us, there are so many different things I could have submitted for a favorite Verdi performance.

Der fliegende Holländer

Der fliegende Holländer / Wiener Staatsoper

A live video broadcast from Vienna starring Thomas Konieczny

Streamed May 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
“Modern convention is the oddity” “Modern convention is the oddity”

Michael Spyres talks to Kevin Ng about his winding path as a baritenor, which composer he wants to conquer next, and how he makes Wagner work in his voice — and in his native Ozarks.

A favorite Verdi performance from La Grunowa A favorite Verdi performance from La Grunowa

I realize Igor Gorin did not sing much Verdi except for a few Papa Germonts, yet this performance of the famous baritone aria from Attila I claim is well-night perfect singing.

Billy Budd

Billy Budd / Opéra de Lyon

Sean Michael Plumb, Derek Walton, and Paul Appleby lead a performance recorded last month in Lyon

Streamed May 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Eugene Onegin

Eugene Onegin / Metropolitan Opera

Iurii Samoilov and Asmik Grigorian star in a live broadcast from New York

Streamed May 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A favorite Verdi performance from Ryan Ellerman A favorite Verdi performance from Ryan Ellerman

Luminous Lucia Popp’s “Caro Nome” beams with Gilda’s youthful passion, displaying Popp’s signature bright, beautiful timbre and magnificent coloratura.