Category Archives: Opera
Tito Gobbi
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 3rd April 2026I’ve been writing a lot about great baritones of the past century, while I’ve mentioned him a few times, this is the first post devoted exclusively to Tito Gobbi (1913-1984). A major figure of 20th-century opera, Gobbi combined vocal distinction with an acting ability rarely equaled among singers of any vocal category. His career, which…
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Renato Capecchi
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 24th March 2026Renato Capecchi (1923–1998) was a distinguished Italian baritone, actor, and opera director celebrated for his vast repertoire and exceptional dramatic versatility. While he performed many major dramatic roles, he was particularly renowned for his mastery of “buffo” (comic) characters. He made his operatic debut in 1949 as Amonasro in Aida at Reggio Emilia. By 1951,…
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Tristan und Isolde in HD – 2026
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 21st March 2026Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde holds a unique position in the annals of opera. To some, it is the peak of the art form; its supreme achievement. To others, it is an interesting work full of declamatory singing, occasional bombast, and much inspired music. I fall into the second camp. Regardless of where you’re positioned, it…
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Operas With Organ Parts
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 3rd March 2026There are several operas in which the organ has a prominent role. It is the reason that many major opera houses have organs built into their architecture. Examples include the Metropolitan Opera House, the Sydney Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Palais Garnier, the Royal Opera House London, and the Rome Opera. Here are several…
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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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I Puritani in HD
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 10th January 2026Vincenzo Bellini’s final opera, first produced in 1835, the year of his death at age 33, was telecast today by the Metropolitan Opera. This new production was staged by Charles Edwards who also designed the sets. If you ask any singer or conductor what their artistic goal is, they will say that it’s to realize…
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Jonas Kaufmann Will No Longer Sing in London or New York
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 28th December 2025Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann recently announced that he would no longer appear at Covent Garden in London and at the Met in New York. It’s been more than seven years since he last appeared at the Met, and that was after a four year absence. Kaufmann expressed dissatisfaction with how the Met treated its chorus…
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Ombra Mai Fu
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 26th December 2025“Ombra mai fu”, also known as “Largo from Xerxes” or “Handel’s Largo”, is the opening aria from the opera Serse (1738) by George Frideric Handel. Serse is an opera seria in three acts. It was first performed at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket on 15 April 1738. It was a complete failure lasting for only five…
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