I've been listening to soprano Natalie Dessay lately, in particular, "Les Oiseaux dans la charmille" from Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann (one of my favorites). I've been humming along with it for the past few years, but recently decided it was time to finally learn the French lyrics. So now, even though I still only hum the song, I know what she is singing! And because I'm so nice, I want to share both the French lyrics and English translation with you. Learn "Les Oiseaux dans la charmille."

Now in it's fourth season, The Met: Live in HD has been broadcasting live performances in high definition to theaters around the world since 2006. This Saturday, November 7th, the Met will present its third Live in HD broadcast of the season, Puccini's Turandot. Saturday's performance will star Maria Guleghina as the Chinese princess, Turandot, and Marcello Giordani as Calàf, the prince whose solos include the famous "Nessun dorma." I'm looking forward to viewing this production, as the last Turandot I saw at the Met was lackluster and pathetic. This year's production, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who is known for his opulent productions, promises to deliver dramatic visuals along with fantastic music. Learn more about The Met: Live in HD, including upcoming performances, history, and ticket information.

In a recent article by Philip Boroff, it was reported that the average income for a Carnegie Hall stage hand in New York City is $430,543. This proves that being a stage hand isn't as nerdy as some people think!

In just a few weeks, November 10th to be exact, Asia's oldest orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, will embark on a historic tour of North America, starting at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Under the direction of Maestro Long Yu, the SSO will perform in twelve cities in the US and Canada (listed below) in celebration of the orchestra's 130th anniversary as well as the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. Unfortunately, the SSO will not make it anywhere near the middle of the US, but those of you who live in California and New York have a special chance to see a rare US performance of the Chinese orchestra. The SSO has long been a cultural ambassador, and to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western music, they will perform both styles of music during the tour. Audiences can expect to hear Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, Chen Qigang's Iris dévoilée, and Bao Yuan Kai's China Air Suite.

SSO Performance Dates and Venues