8. Sing Me a Story because that's how I learned about tuberculosis.

Emily Wilson reviewing Nolan's The Odyssey.

Not only does this do nothing for the queer community, the comments section is also a predictable free-for-all on xenophobia with seemingly zero moderation because all engagement is good engagement.

Okay I take it back classical musicians should be apolitical

I was going to go for something a little more Max/Kaspar-focused for the thumbnail, but this photo of Agathe from a production in Bonn is such a fucking mood, especially this week.

In what can be construed as related news, Trotsky has stolen my Death of Klinghoffer hat.

I can truly say I learned about Kissinger’s death thanks to Trotsky

Maybe it’s just my algo but with the amount of Lumumba Vea videos I keep seeing from the World Cup I feel like @versobooks.bsky.social is missing out by not offering a promo on Renée Fenby and Ann Wright’s incredible translation of Ludo de Witte’s The Assassination of Lumumba.

PS: How much of this can I write off as “research into the operatic canon’s material afterlife”? (Also did not intentionally time out this week's Turandot episode to this merch drop but now feel like Decca should advertise. Will accept payment in an away jersey.)

Crying over how happy the guillotine in La Scala's production of Andrea Chénier looks. He's just a lil guy 😭😭😭

I never use emojis when writing, but had to while assembling this episode outline and compiling my notes from Patricia Juliana Smith.

Who wore it best

Some highlights:

Realizing the tenor blackface palette is also my ideal eyeshadow palette what in the Frantz Fanon

Ohhhh my god you "lost 90% of [your] social circle after October 7?" Should we tell everyone? Should we throw a party? Should we invite Bella Hadid

Jerrell also gave me the idea for what may be my finest achievement in Photoshop, coming to full meme format soon.

Eventually, the project fizzled out, as so many do. But I wish I had been able to spend more time with Marjane and her grandmother, who reminded me so much of my own. What a blessing when someone else's art brings us closer to those whom we ourselves hold dear.

While I’m ambivalent about metrics, I’m unironically grateful that this silly little niche opera podcast has been finding its audience since it launched in March. Thanks to all who are listening. I promise to get only more unhinged from here.

I now understand the context, but for a minute was wondering why Milli Vanilli was catching strays between Alito and Bessent.

Me in my Bluesky Bubble

Konzept: Trudeau as Lakme

In fairness it is one of those operas that makes for a great poster (especially in Poland)

I mean

Like come on Verso this is the content you need

Important research prep for today's recording session on Turandot.

Close enough welcome back nineteenth-century hysteria diagnosis

Based on last week’s interview with The Observer, this also seems like Lott’s personality offstage (at least the having the time of her life bit).

Interesting, too, that they dialed the makeup back for the production photos compared to the performance itself.