It's been a long day and I'm hella tired, but I'm not too tired to say that BLACKFACE IS, AND ALWAYS WAS DISGUSTINGLY WRONG. (Whyyy is this even a question?? How is this not obvious?!) Anna Netrebko and Arena di Verona, do better. It's seriously not that hard.

RIP dear Bramwell. A great musician and servant of humanity.

In the first in a mini-series of advice you really, truly need right now -- writer & director @lch_attridge's "The Things They Didn't Teach You At Conservatoire" is all about navigating a volatile industry while preserving your physical and mental health: schmopera.com/essay-tuning-i…

In part 2 of "The Things They Didn't Teach You At Conservatoire", writer & director @lch_attridge dives deep into the dreaded concept of networking (eek!): schmopera.com/essay-tuning-i…

If there's one thing an artist can't do without, it's craft. In part 3 of @lch_attridge's series, "The Things They Didn't Teach You At Conservatoire", the writer & director offers sage advice on honing your artistic practice: schmopera.com/essay-tuning-i…

Our mini-series, "The Things They Didn't Teach You At Conservatoire", wraps up with perhaps the most important part: your own wellbeing. (There's more from @lch_attridge, too - click to find your way to her newsletter series!) schmopera.com/essay-tuning-i…

It seems like this last flurry has cinched it: the opera world is separated in two, and it's an utter shame. (We hope Angel Blue is doing alright, at least.) schmopera.com/a-thoroughly-d… Anna Netrebko Arena di Verona #blackface

Time to listen like a music nerd. We're digging deep into three non-opera bangers, pulled straight from our editor's workout playlist: schmopera.com/listening-to-p… CeeLo Green LA ROUX Panic! At The Disco #popmusic #musicnerd #running #playlist

Does your story need a refresher? schmopera.com/need-a-new-bio…

We caught this year's PROTOTYPE: Opera | Theatre | Now and the offerings are rich: New York contributor Loren Lester reviews three shows, featuring David Lang, Nathan Gunn, and a very curious double-bill... schmopera.com/in-our-daughte…

In the first of two west-coast reviews, we catch scene-stealing mechanicals and fresh singing in Vancouver Opera's Midsummer: schmopera.com/a-midsummers-n… #VOmidsummer #britten #amidsummernightsdream #areweallmet

A Canadian premiere out of PacificOperaVictoria, featuring eye-popping costume design and top-notch singing: schmopera.com/fantasy-is-for… Claire de Sévigné Adrian Kramer #thebirds

Recent reviews: new Florida-based contributor Samuel Loetscher caught a Tosca "triumph" at Florida Grand Opera. schmopera.com/a-triumph-for-…

Only in New York: contributor Loren Lester caught an "Il trittico" out of @sasperformingartscompany, Inc. + bonus "Il tabarro" via Regina Opera Company - and it's still not enough Puccini. schmopera.com/il-trittico-sl…

We're proud to kick off a new series dedicated to those beautiful detail-freaks, the répétiteur. Cross-posted via his blog, "Opera with a Hot Toddy", contributor David Todd takes a deep dive into the nitty-gritty of being an opera pianist: schmopera.com/the-elton-john…

Our pianist's series continues with part II of The Elton John Act: helping you get your audition excerpts in order. schmopera.com/the-elton-john… #opera #pianist #repetiteur #rehearsal #audition

Part 3 of our series of industry secrets from the piano bench: a deep-dive into the freakiest maids in opera. schmopera.com/the-elton-john… #opera #pianist #repetiteur #audition #elektra #strauss

Our pianist-friendly series continues! Next up in the répétiteur's audition toolkit: the eye-crossing Quintet from Bizet's Carmen. schmopera.com/the-elton-john… #carmen #quintet #denous #devous #bizet #repetiteur #pianist

The most staple of all Mozart finales: our répétiteur-empowering series continues with Act II of The Marriage of Figaro. schmopera.com/the-elton-john… #opera #mozart #repetiteur #finale

The steamiest of audition excerpts: our pianist's series continues with the opening of Strauss' surging, seductive Der Rosenkavalier. schmopera.com/the-elton-john… #opera #pianist #repetiteur #strauss #derrosenkavalier #birds #horns