--- title: The Opera Blog with Insightful and Delightful Commentary | Friends of The Opera description: The Friends of The Opera Blog with insightful commentary on the history of opera, specific operas, Operaphoria, and more --- [Skip to content](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera#main-content) [![friends-of-the-opera-logo](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hs-fs/hubfs/friends-of-the-opera-logo.png?width=105&height=100&name=friends-of-the-opera-logo.png)](https://fotogr.org/) - [Home](https://friendsoftheopera.org/) - [About](https://friendsoftheopera.org/about) - [Membership](https://friendsoftheopera.org/membership) - Events Show submenu for Events - [Opera Event Calendar](https://friendsoftheopera.org/west-michigan-opera-events) - [Trips](https://friendsoftheopera.org/trips) - [Mozart's Birthday Party](https://friendsoftheopera.org/mozart-birthday-party) - Education Show submenu for Education - [Blog](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog) - [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/arias-and-insights) - [What is Opera?](https://friendsoftheopera.org/what-is-opera) - [Contact](https://friendsoftheopera.org/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://friendsoftheopera.org/) - [About](https://friendsoftheopera.org/about) - [Membership](https://friendsoftheopera.org/membership) - Events Show submenu for Events - [Opera Event Calendar](https://friendsoftheopera.org/west-michigan-opera-events) - [Trips](https://friendsoftheopera.org/trips) - [Mozart's Birthday Party](https://friendsoftheopera.org/mozart-birthday-party) - Education Show submenu for Education - [Blog](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog) - [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/arias-and-insights) - [What is Opera?](https://friendsoftheopera.org/what-is-opera) - [Contact](https://friendsoftheopera.org/contact) # The Opera Blog Everything from the history of opera, specific performances, fun facts, *Arias and Insights*publications, and more. [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/Opera%20Arias%20and%20Insights%20Logo%20opt.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/andrea-ch%C3%A9nier-by-giordano-the-poet-and-the-guillotine) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [Andrea Chénier by Giordano: The Poet and the Guillotine](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/andrea-ch%C3%A9nier-by-giordano-the-poet-and-the-guillotine) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Dec 12, 2025 8:10:19 AM In a candlelit salon shimmering with powdered wigs and powdered tempers, a young poet rises. His ver... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/andrea-ch%C3%A9nier-by-giordano-the-poet-and-the-guillotine) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/ho00009896_76811bd9-5984-4d38-a8ba-05cd3fc94fd9.tmb-poster500.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/arabella-by-strauss-the-last-waltz-of-old-vienna) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [Arabella by Strauss — The Last Waltz of Old Vienna](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/arabella-by-strauss-the-last-waltz-of-old-vienna) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Nov 17, 2025 4:27:10 PM Imagine Vienna at twilight—the chandeliers still shimmer, but the light has turned to amber. The yea... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/arabella-by-strauss-the-last-waltz-of-old-vienna) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/event-featured-the-met-live-in-hd-la-boheme-1757033630-270x400.jpeg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/la-boh%C3%A8me-by-puccini-love-loss-and-life-in-an-attic) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [La Bohème by Puccini — Love, Loss, and Life in an Attic](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/la-boh%C3%A8me-by-puccini-love-loss-and-life-in-an-attic) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Nov 1, 2025 4:53:39 PM The Fragile Fire of Youth Snow drifts against the Paris rooftops, candles sputter in a draft, and so... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/la-boh%C3%A8me-by-puccini-love-loss-and-life-in-an-attic) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20grand%20opera%20house%20interior%20showcasing%20an%20ornate%20ceiling%20adorned%20with%20intricate%20frescoes%20and%20an%20elaborate%20chandelier%20that%20casts%20a%20w.png)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/the-met-live-in-hd-2025-2026-season-a-world-of-opera-on-the-big-screen) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [The Met: Live in HD 2025–2026 Season — A World of Opera on the Big Screen](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/the-met-live-in-hd-2025-2026-season-a-world-of-opera-on-the-big-screen) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Nov 1, 2025 1:10:08 PM Step into the heart of the world’s greatest opera house without leaving your seat. The Met: Live in ... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/the-met-live-in-hd-2025-2026-season-a-world-of-opera-on-the-big-screen) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/ho00009894_dff3bc48-8791-4f68-a49a-1cb0682145de.tmb-poster500.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/la-sonnambula-by-bellini) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [La Sonnambula by Bellini  — The Sleepwalker’s Secret](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/la-sonnambula-by-bellini) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Oct 17, 2025 6:54:34 PM A Dream You Can Hear Bellini’s La Sonnambula opens not with thunderous tragedy or political turmoil,... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/la-sonnambula-by-bellini) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/Barber%20of%20Saville-1.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/il-barbiere-di-siviglia-by-rossini-the-razors-edge-of-comedy) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini — The Razor’s Edge of Comedy](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/il-barbiere-di-siviglia-by-rossini-the-razors-edge-of-comedy) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) May 26, 2025 1:19:00 PM A Whirlwind of Wit and Whiskers The overture alone could make you smile. Its jaunty rhythms, crisp c... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/il-barbiere-di-siviglia-by-rossini-the-razors-edge-of-comedy) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/Salome-1.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/salome-by-strauss-the-dance-that-shook-the-world) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [Salome by Strauss — The Dance That Shook the World](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/salome-by-strauss-the-dance-that-shook-the-world) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) May 13, 2025 2:47:00 PM A Dangerous Desire The first notes of Richard Strauss’s Salome don’t just begin—they strike. They sh... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/salome-by-strauss-the-dance-that-shook-the-world) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/Marriage%20of%20Figaro-1.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/the-marriage-of-figaro-by-mozart-the-comedy-that-changed-everything) [The Met: Live in HD](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/the-met-live-in-hd), [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart — The Comedy That Changed Everything](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/the-marriage-of-figaro-by-mozart-the-comedy-that-changed-everything) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Apr 21, 2025 9:26:00 AM The Curtain Rises on Chaos Before a single note is sung, Le Nozze di Figaro opens with a man measuri... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/the-marriage-of-figaro-by-mozart-the-comedy-that-changed-everything) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/Fidelio-1.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/fidelio-by-beethoven-freedoms-light-in-the-darkness) [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [Fidelio by Beethoven — Freedom’s Light in the Darkness](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/fidelio-by-beethoven-freedoms-light-in-the-darkness) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Mar 10, 2025 10:32:00 AM The Courage to Sing in Chains There are few operas in the repertoire that carry the moral gravity of... [Read Full Post](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/fidelio-by-beethoven-freedoms-light-in-the-darkness) [![](https://friendsoftheopera.org/hubfs/Aida.jpg)](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/aida-by-verdi-love-and-loyalty-in-the-shadow-of-empire) [Arias and Insights](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/tag/arias-and-insights) ## [Aida by Verdi — Love and Loyalty in the Shadow of Empire](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/aida-by-verdi-love-and-loyalty-in-the-shadow-of-empire) [Friends of The Opera](https://friendsoftheopera.org/blog/author/friends-of-the-opera) Jan 20, 2025 8:18:00 AM A Desert Dream of Passion and Power The first notes of Aida rise like the shimmer of heat above the ... 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