Countertenors at the Met

I have missed large parts of the Metropolitan Opera International Radio Broadcasts the past two weeks, Tannhäuser (December 18, with Thomas Hampson, briefly reviewed by Vilaine Fille) and Kát'a Kabanová (December 25). However, in spite of similar holiday conflicts this week, I fully intend to do all I can to listen to all of this week's broadcast, the Met premiere of Handel's Rodelinda, Regina de' Longobardi. Here are a few things to help you get ready:

• Rodelinda page from AllAboutOpera.com
  
• Patrick Giles, When Harry Met Handel (Opera News 69, no. 5, December 2004)
  
• Reviews of the Glyndebourne Rodelinda in 1998
  
• Anthony Tommasini, Handel Discovers Big Home At the Met (New York Times, December 4)

However, I don't really need to write anything about the broadcasts here anymore, since now there is Sieglinde's Diaries.

Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!