La Bohème is a great entry point into Italian opera. Verismo, the dominant style of Italian opera at the time, aimed to bring opera closer to ordinary people than traditional grand operas did. Here, we follow the story of ordinary young people, capturing the joys and heartbreaks of real life. What a contrast to Don…
Tristan und Isolde was the first complete opera by Richard Wagner whose CD I acquired (the Böhm recording on DGG). I know it’s not the easiest starting point, but I found my way into his music through it, and since then, I’ve become a huge fan of the composer. I’m always amazed by the four…
Don Carlo might not be the most widely performed of Verdi’s operas, but it is easily one of my personal favorites. The story is intricate and compelling, seamlessly blending high-stakes politics with intimate human drama. Yet despite its complexity, it is thrilling from start to finish—Verdi masterfully uses his score to elevate the dramatic power…