West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG

Search the site

No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

The Opera Ladies Have Now Seen More Than 300 In a Row; Here are Their Recommendations for This Week

January 27, 2021 | 6:31 PM
in ART, NEWS
23

Marion Chalat and Carolyn Starry have found a life-enriching way to spend these difficult pandemic months. They’ve been watching and listening to opera, and they’ve got quite a streak going. As of last week, they had seen 300 operas streamed by the Metropolitan Opera on a nightly basis.

“It has been a wonderful journey for us and our book reports are filled with facts and fun comments as we view some of the operas, with different casts, for the 4th or 5th time,” Carolyn told us.

On March 16, they will hit their 365th opera.

This week, there are several operas to see. Carolyn recommended Wednesday’s performance of Faust and Saturday’s performance of Rigoletto.

#309   Wednesday, January 27
Gounod’s  Faust  (12/10/2011)
Starring Marina Poplavskaya, Jonas Kaufmann, and René Pape
#310  Thursday, January 28
Verdi’s Falstaff  (12/14/2013)
Lisette Oropesa, Angela Meade, Stephanie Blythe, Jennifer Cano, Paolo Fanale, Ambrogio Maestri, and Franco Vassallo
#311  Friday, January 29
Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer  (3/10/2020)
Starring Anja Kampe, Mihoko Fujimura, Sergey Skorokhodov, David Portillo, Evgeny Nikitin, and Franz-Josef Selig,
#312  Saturday, January 30
Verdi’s Rigoletto  (2/16/2013)
Starring Diana Damrau, Oksana Volkova, Piotr Beczała, Željko Lučić, and Štefan Kocán, conducted by Michele Mariotti.
.#313  Sunday, January 31
Verdi’s Macbeth  (1/12/2008)
Starring Maria Guleghina, Dimitri Pittas, Željko Lučić, and John Relyea
Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

23 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
JUDY WOOD
JUDY WOOD
4 years ago

I long for the day when we can go back into the opera house and see live performances again
I’m guessing opening night New Years eve 2022
I have seen many, but they have me beat.
some much more wonderful than others but still a lot better than most of what is on nightly tv.

judy wood

0
Reply
Marion Chalat
Marion Chalat
4 years ago
Reply to  JUDY WOOD

Like your comment. I can’t wait to get back to the Met opera either.

0
Reply
Good humor
Good humor
4 years ago

I so applaud efforts like this to make the most of these times. I look forward to seeing their reviews and opinions!

0
Reply
Marion Chalat
Marion Chalat
4 years ago
Reply to  Good humor

Thank you for your thoughts.

0
Reply
Lulu T
Lulu T
4 years ago

Wonderful! Inspiring! Great spirit and enthusiasm, ladies.

0
Reply
Marion Chalat
Marion Chalat
4 years ago
Reply to  Lulu T

Appreciate your comment.

0
Reply
Michael H
Michael H
4 years ago

Your dedication to the arts during the pandemic is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for making the Upper West Side proud!

0
Reply
Marion Chalat
Marion Chalat
4 years ago
Reply to  Michael H

Thank you.

0
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
4 years ago

Keep it up, ladies!

0
Reply
Sharon Frankel
Sharon Frankel
4 years ago

Congrats, You go Gals. My favs are Nixon in China,
Akhenaten, Lulu, The Ring Cycle

0
Reply
Carolyn Starry
Carolyn Starry
4 years ago
Reply to  Sharon Frankel

Good choices! Whether opera, ballet or Broadway, everthing is subjective. You never know, seeing something for the first time, how your heart and soul may identify or be in awe with a character or the entire ensemble. Years later, seeing the same opera with a different cast, costums, choreography and setting gives a whole new perspective

0
Reply
Support our local artists
Support our local artists
4 years ago

My recommendation is to boycott the Met’s streams and special concerts until it stops taking advantage of the pandemic to starve out its artists. (Google it.) There would be no operas without the chorus, orchestra, and backstage talent. Stop supporting this morally bankrupt organization until there is a change in leadership.

0
Reply
Twilla L.
Twilla L.
4 years ago

I have loved watching operas (169 so far). My favorites are the Ring Cycle, Turandot, The Merry Widow, and Don Carlo.

0
Reply
Carolyn
Carolyn
4 years ago
Reply to  Twilla L.

I like your choices. I really enjoyed
Week 44, “Renee Fleming Week.” I miss seeing her at the Met so this was a wonderful opportunity to see her versatility in a variety of demanding roles. Many years ago she and her husband were standing in front of my husband and me at a local movie theater. I was “star struck” and finally had the courage to have a conversation with her. That is a fond memory!

0
Reply
Édouard Iglesias
Édouard Iglesias
4 years ago

For the sake of precision, there are many repeat showings so in fact there are about 200 operas at the most. Still a lot!

0
Reply
Karen
Karen
4 years ago

Thank you Carolyn & Marion for introducing me to the Metropolitan Opera’s streaming link. I have watched 38 Opera’s since March. You are an inspiration to many.
I know both of you can’t wait until the live performance return but until then enjoy!

0
Reply
Susan Schmidt
Susan Schmidt
4 years ago

Me too. Every night…or next morning.
Haven’t missed yet.

0
Reply
Marion Chalat
Marion Chalat
4 years ago

Thank you for your comment

0
Reply
Rosanne Martorella
Rosanne Martorella
4 years ago

I envy you two. Bravo!

0
Reply
Alicia Ogawa
Alicia Ogawa
4 years ago

I hope some of the fans of the streaming Met Opera performancesrealize that neither the orchestra nor the chorus has been paid since last April. Peter Gelb has been using non-Met performers for the benefit events, and not a penny is going to the people who actually ARE the Met Opera. Both the orchestra and the chorus have set up fund-raising vehicles. It’d be lovely if people who are opera fans can throw a few $$ their way. Otherwise, the Met as an organization will cease to exist—it’s well on its way to that outcome.

0
Reply
lynn
lynn
4 years ago
Reply to  Alicia Ogawa

I know the Met asked patrons if they wanted to turn in their last season tickets as a contribution, and those same patrons have continued to give regular contributions during covid (all the way up to 2022). Are you saying that none of the performers are benefitting from this?

0
Reply
Alicia Ogawa
Alicia Ogawa
4 years ago
Reply to  lynn

Sorry…I should have explained that the money collected on behalf of the Met Opera goes to hiring the stars which are not permanent members of the Met organization. And recently, on non-Met musicians who are playing these benefits.

0
Reply
Alicia Ogawa
Alicia Ogawa
4 years ago
Reply to  lynn

THat’s exactly right. Try googling to read some of the reports on how Peter Gelb is destroying the orchestra. You won’t find any in the NYT, you know why? Peter Gelb’s dad was the managing editor there. Not only is none of that money NOT goin to the orchestra/chorus, but Gelb is refusing to let either of these groups use the Met name to do local performances to raise money on their own. It’s a complete disgrace!

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

New Renderings Show More Details of the Park and Performance Space Planned for Lincoln Center’s West Side  
ART

New Renderings Show More Details of the Park and Performance Space Planned for Lincoln Center’s West Side  

May 19, 2025 | 12:02 PM
Here’s the UWS Dish: CASASALVO’s Cannoli and Maritozzo
COLUMNS

Here’s the UWS Dish: CASASALVO’s Cannoli and Maritozzo

May 19, 2025 | 8:09 AM
Previous Post

Three Injured in Morning Fire at 65 Central Park West

Next Post

‘On Mondays We Eat Local’: Roommates Launch an Initiative to Help Local Kosher Spots Survive

this week's events image
Next Post
‘On Mondays We Eat Local’: Roommates Launch an Initiative to Help Local Kosher Spots Survive

‘On Mondays We Eat Local’: Roommates Launch an Initiative to Help Local Kosher Spots Survive

Learn About Hearing Loss, Balance, and Dizziness at an Upcoming Zoom

Learn About Hearing Loss, Balance, and Dizziness at an Upcoming Zoom

Western Beef Supermarket Is Set to Close; New Market Expected

Brooklyn Fare Supermarket Expects to Open This Summer, Pledges 'Affordability and Convenience'

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.