Monthly Archives: February 2026
Nicolae Herlea
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd February 2026Nicolae Herlea (1927- 2014) was a distinguished Romanian baritone. He was admired for the burnished warmth of his voice, impeccable legato, and aristocratic stage bearing. Though he built a substantial international career, he remained deeply associated with the Romanian operatic tradition and is widely regarded as one of his country’s greatest vocal artists. Herlea studied…
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The Met’s 26-27 Season
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 19th February 2026The Metropolitan Opera officially announced its 2026–27 season today, revealing a scaled-back schedule of 17 productions – the fewest in over 60 years due to ongoing financial constraints. There are also three special events. General Manager Peter Gelb announced he will retire in 2030. He noted that the reduced season is a response to budget…
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LCO Program Notes – March 14, 2026
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 17th February 2026The following are the program notes I wrote for the Lubbock Chamber Orchestra’s March 14 concert. Tickets can be purchased here. Copland Appalachian Spring Appalachian Spring was commissioned in 1943 by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge as a ballet for choreographer Martha Graham. The scenario portrays a young pioneer couple beginning their married life in rural Pennsylvania,…
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The Otello Tenor
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th February 2026I recently wrote that the title role in Verdi’s Otello was unique and so difficult to fully realize that it needed a tenor so gifted that the role might belong to a class of its own – The Otello Tenor. The role requires a tenor with the strength of an offensive tackle and the finesse…
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The 25 Best Operas – Part 2
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 5th February 2026Part 1 of this list is here. Aida (Verdi, 1871) was composed to open the new Cairo Opera House. It was written to a libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, which in turn was based on a scenario developed by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. Because of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 its sets made in Paris…
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The 25 Best Operas – Part 1
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 3rd February 2026This list grew to such length that I decided to split it into two parts. The first 12 operas discussed are here. The remaining 13 will be in the next post. A few disclaimers before I start my list. This sort of compendium is just for fun. There can be no definitive list of the…
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