[Academic Interlude]

UI is off to London to give a conference paper over the weekend. A review of Powder Her Face at New York City Opera has been put on hold; another of Parsifal at the Metropolitan Opera might come next week. My review of the premiere is published on Bachtrack, but I reckon Daniele Gatti and the orchestra might have gained a little in shared vision over the course of the run. In the meantime, for as long as it lasts, the above recording from that opening night should suffice….

(For a little fun, see Jonas Kaufmann chuckle his way through Renée Fleming’s ’questions’ in a Met in HD broadcast of Rigoletto here. H/T Intermezzo.)