A recent release by the Metropolitan Opera, this two-disc set makes available on DVD the famous performance of Berg’s Lulu that was broadcast on 20 December 1980 as part of the PBS series “Live from the Met.” 
Since his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1971, conductor James Levine has come to represent the house’s commitment to artistic excellence — reliable, professional, and immaculately presented. 
Once the province of only the most dedicated opera fanatics, mid-20th century recordings of privately taped live performances have become more widely available. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/met-opera-on-demand/id505026963
The novels of Sinclair Lewis once shot across the American literary skies like comets, alarming and fascinating readers of that era, but their tails didn’t extend far behind them. http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/chinese_conduct.phpA major part of the rejuvenation of opera in the 21st century is the cultivation of young singers. 
The Los Angeles Opera, anticipating Benjamin Britten’ centennial gave
the composer, as well as its patrons, an early birthday present of performances
of his charming comic opera, Albert Herring. For sixty years, the Chelsea Opera Group has adorned London opera life. It doesn’ do mass market, but focuses on unusual and obscure repertoire. This audience comes for the music! 
You can’ keep a good opera buffa down. And Gaetano Donizetti’ Don Pasquale is about as good as opera buffa gets. http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/mishap_at_the_m.phpThe Barbican’s English oratorio series now reaches the twentieth century, with Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, though it will step back to The Dream of Gerontius next month. http://www.operatoday.com/documents/ENO%20Mini%20Operas%20press%20release.pdfThe Royal Opera House started doing opera and ballet broadcasts before many other houses, and is now expanding its schedule. On April 17th, Verdi’s Rigoletto is being streamed live in over 600 cinemas in 21 countries.
Flute players in opera orchestra around the world must look forward to the frequent appearances of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, knowing that while the stage spotlight in the mad scene will be on the soprano, the orchestral spotlight will be on their instrument. Released in late 2011, Deutsche Grammophon’s DVD of the new staging of Berg’s Lulu at the Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona is an excellent contribution to the discography of this fascinating opera. “Opera is an emotional fitness centre”, says Kasper Holten, new Director of Opera, announcing the Royal Opera House 2012-13 season which mixes daring with prudence.The Chinese conductor and pianist Xu Zhong will be the new artistic director
of an Italian opera house, the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania. 
How would a period instrument specialist like John Eliot Gardiner approach Rigoletto, Verdi’ sordid tale? This was his first Rigoletto (though not his first Verdi); but he created it with great insight.
Two live camels with trainers in Egyptian garb were stationed in front of Phoenix’s Symphony Hall to publicize the opening of Arizona Opera’ new production of Aida. 
Opera-goers have come to expect high quality opera as part of Sarasota Opera’s Winter Festival. 
The regiment marches onwards! 
Massenet’ Manon succeeds in the theater when the soprano has
a real sense of the role and how she wants to present it. http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/christopher_koe.php
Lyric Opera of Chicago has begun with the current season’s production of Show Boat a series of musicals of the American theater to be featured in coming years.Christopher Koelsch has been tapped Wednesday as the new president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Opera. Koelsch, 41, was the opera’s chief financial officer and will take the new post September 15.The unfashionableness of Der Freischütz in England is a little baffling. In its day, not only was the opera celebrated across Germany, it soon conquered other European stages and indeed theatres worldwide. http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/cologne_opera_t.php
When the ENO does really innovative work, it does so with style. Wolfgang Rihm’ Jakob Lenz may have taken 34 years to reach London fully staged, but this ENO production made such a strong impression that it might be years before it will be forgotten. http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/uwe_eric_laufen.phpAn exciting contribution to the discography of this popular opera, the live performance of Richard Strauss’s Salome from the Festspielhaus at Baden-Baden is a compelling DVD. 
It is Manon month in the Mid-Atlantic states. In New York, the Met is presenting Massanet’s take, while Opera Company of Philadelphia has just opened Puccini’s version: his first successful opera, Manon Lescaut.http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/ignacio_garcia-.php
I have to rethink my week, because somehow I have to get to see Opera Atelier’s production of Jean-Baptiste Lully’s Armide again. http://www.operatoday.com/content/2012/04/denoke_bows_out.php
Beethoven is adventuring in Salt Lake City again, and he needed a quick bite to keep his energy up.
Let us know where Beethoven is by 5 PM on Wednesday, April 11 - winning answers will be entered to win a pair of tickets to Beethoven's "Eroica" this weekend! 
If you've been to one of the pre-concert chats in the First Tier Room lately you know that they are popular. This season we've been reaching the room capacity and have had to turn people away, which is never fun. Starting this weekend we're excited to report that the pre-concert ...