Markus Werba at Wigmore Hall – on BBC3 (only 5 more days)

Austrian barihunk Markus Werba (with Gary Matthewman, piano) sings Schubert, Wolf, and Schumann live from Wigmore Hall, London. 

This one-hour program will be available on BBC3 iPlayer for about five six more days. (updated 3/2/31)

• Schubert Gesänge des Harfners Op. 12, Nos. 1,2,3
• Wolf Michelangelo Lieder
• Schumann Dichterliebe

The Met in HD vs. Life (Plus the New Season and Wagner Monologues)

Wagner Monologues: When exactly did Richard Wagner stop writing operas that open in mid-action (Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin), and start writing operas that open with lots of narration (Parsifal, any Ring Opera)? I am sure I could figure this out with a little bit of research.

...vs. Life: But the point of the question today is the inconvenience I created for myself, and what kind of workaround I can make. I scheduled the big Lenten church choir rehearsal for this Saturday 10 – 1. And guess what else is happening (starting at noon) this Saturday? That’s right, JK in Parsifal.

JDD's Master Classes Are Not Just for the Students

I mentioned Joyce DiDonato’s Julliard master class back in January. The class was streamed live by Julliard, and in February, they posted clips on their YT channel. Julliard has already removed some videos, which is a shame, because there is a lot for us to learn (even us opera buffs who are not necessarily planning on a great singing career.) Julliard posted each student’s session separately, and so far I have watched only the first two sessions. (Unfortunately I think those are the only two still online.)

Met Season Leaked

Over at the clever, stylish, sometimes b*tchy, and always up-to-date Parterre Box blog, La Cieca shares the 2013 – 2014 Met Opera Schedule with the world. Thank you Opera Lady!

Click on over to the post at Parterre Box for full coverage, complete with dates & casts (including frequent appearances by that ubiquitous singer, TBA). But before you go I’d just like to highlight a few items of special interest (to RnR, anyway): two English National Opera productions: Eugene Onegin and Two Boys (those are two separate operas, by the way), Werther with JK, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Robert Carsen’s Falstaff, Rusalka with some top-shelf girl singers, Prince Igor, a handful of Strauss operas, and of course, a host of the usual suspects (Boheme, Butterfly, Tosca, etc.)

Sunday Brunch – Ruby Hughes Sings Richard Strauss (and Mahler)

Listen to this broadcast on the BBC 3 iPlayer as soon as you can (before they take it down!) British soprano Ruby Hughes and the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda present four songs by Richard Strauss: Freundliche Vision, Waldseligkeit, Befreit and Zueignung, which Strauss himself orchestrated. (Not the Four Last Songs as I first thought I read. I really need to learn to stop skimming!)