Ok music nerds, I need your suggestions… I’m wanting to do some in depth reading on the life of Henri Duparc, and would looove to know if anyone here has suggestions beyond what’s online. Anyone got any good biography suggestions?

Given that someone decided years ago that it'd be great to plant mostly male (i.e. pollen producing) trees and now we're all stuck with horrendous spring allergies, I genuinely wonder if this is going to eventually negatively influence performance schedules at some point down the line.

A gorgeous day in Memphis to celebrate our last concert of the spring. Thank you Opera Memphis and @jbartonmezzo.bsky.social - see you in fall 2026 in (so far) @seattleopera.bsky.social @laopera.bsky.social Cincinnati Kansas City Huntsville Savannah Come get you some beauty! It’s everywhere!

✨“We are as amazing and as ordinary as every star in the sky.”✨

I am OVER THE MOON (damn near literally!!) that our recording of Jake Heggie’s Intelligence has won the 2026 Grammy for Best Opera Recording. Thank you to everyone who has listened, supported, and championed this project – and this mezzo!!! 💜💜💜 📸 Stacey Bode

Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍

Google has managed to utterly delight today. 😍🤩🥰 @jbartonmezzo.bsky.social

I just saw a video about protesters in MN who have located the hotel where ICE is staying and are making noise to keep them from being able to sleep. (Bravi!) 1. I reeeeeeally wish I could be there to join in the noise 😈 2. Q: what classical piece would y’all play at top volume to keep them awake?

I can’t wait for somebody down the line to develop a way for dry shampoo not to get all over my bathroom

The airport bar next to my gate is playing early 2000’s pop, and my god what a throwback! (In related news, I miss Ke$ha)

Jamie Barton DESTROYS La Zia Principessa! This is a role I WISH I could sing. What a shame this is the only great mezzo role Puccini wrote. youtu.be/9j9cmtrWXCI?...

My toddler niece suggested tonight that maybe she and her parents come over to my place for a spend the night party, and in related news, I’m pretty sure this is the best feeling and auntie could have! 🥹🥲

My Mom just told me that her chiropractor’s name is… wait for it…….. (and I’m not even kidding…….)… Dr. McCrackin. 🤣

I decided to rewatch the first Twilight movie tonight, and I have thoughts… 1. One of the weirdest things about rewatching this movie is remembering that there was a time where we all thought Kristen Stewart was straight 2. Kristen & Robert sure do have the awkward teenage conversation making down

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our gleeful, gorgeous, grounded, gutsy, gay-gasping, galaxy-gazing glamazon!! ✨ @jbartonmezzo.bsky.social 📸 Stacey Bode

Just experienced an earthquake at nearly 3am… this east coast girl and her cat are still on high alert! (And totally fine!)

“Hey Sister!” Can’t get to San Francisco? Don’t miss the Dead Man Walking livestream this Saturday, Sept 20, at 7:30pm Pacific. Tickets are $25 and include a 48-hour on-demand period September 21-23. 🎟️ Tickets and details: sfopera.com/digital/livestream 📸 Cory Weaver / @sfopera.bsky.social

I’m up late studying the next project, and I just need to say right here that imma neeeeeed some director at some point to stage the Suor Angelica/Principessa scene like a telenovela:

There are so many reasons I am ridiculously excited for the starter rehearsals for Dead Man Walking over here in San Francisco, but it’s also undeniable that I just got thoroughly giddy at thinking about how beautifully my hair behaves in the Bay Area climate. 🤣

I don’t usually talk like this, but “abolish ICE” should be the centrist position. Even if you are anti-immigration, this agency is an international embarrassment and a money pit.

I called my House Rep (Nikema Williams) today to voice my dissent against the budgetary bill that the Senate just pushed to the House/my support for her fighting the good fight on our behalf, and the person answering the phone was just so kind, and seemed so glad to hear from me. Call your reps! 🙏🏻

Just sat behind some of the band members from Widespread Panic on a flight, and they were so delightfully normal and chill. It was so lovely to hear legendary rock stars be so kind and generous with everyone who thanked them for their music. 😊

We all deserve better than clickbait – especially when we’re trying to tell stories that actually matter. 💜

In the latest TMDTA podcast Hattie and Becca chat with @jbartonmezzo.bsky.social about her experiences as a queer woman in America and discovering her ADHD. She also shares powerful insights into body positivity, her approach to music and the importance of using her platform. Link in our bio.

When your cat's a master of disguise.

This July 4th, I’ll be celebrating a flag I can support wholeheartedly – join us at the Barbican for Classical Pride! 🏳️‍🌈 P.S. To get in the mood, check out some of the classically queer rep in this video, including the opera character I’m *convinced* is a pansexual icon. jamiebartonmezzo.com/cptix

When ForScore deletes all the score study work I did for no reason 😭😭😭

Y’all, this Aida with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is gonna be 🔥!! We had our first sing through last night, and the goose bumps were BUMPIN!! Cast list and info here: my.bsomusic.org/overview/18941

It’s official… I’m at the “my kingdom for a plate full of roasted veggies made in my own kitchen“ place in my travels…

The Dream of Gerontius last night at Cologne was wonderful, the amazing @jbartonmezzo.bsky.social a touching Angel, John Findon as replacement for Allan Clayton a great Gerontius and @derekwelton.bsky.social fabulous 👏

3:30am airport transfer after a concert + 2 flights = 1 tired girl 🥱😴😴 BUT… Birmingham UK, gird thy loins for I am about to get to youuuuu

Tune in tomorrow for the live stream of our Dream of Gerontius with the WDR Sinfonieorchester and WDR Rundfunkchor, along with tenor John Findon, bass baritone Derek Welton, and yours truly 😇... 8pm CEST (or 2pm EST for those in the US!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejyM...

My recital at Wigmore this next week = come for the Duparc and Disney songs, and leave emotionally/molecularly changed by the Melissa Dunphy set. (No joke, half of the task of preparing this set is just feeling my emotions through it…the text is just so beautiful, and Melissa set it so perfectly!)

Have I shared this with y’all? Apple Classical asked me to curate a playlist a while back, and I went with the stuff I like to listen to… Classic(al) rock! 🤘🏻😝🤘🏻 music.apple.com/us/playlist/...

Could someone please get Parris Goebel to choreograph Chopin Etude in C sharp minor?? That would be siiiiick music.apple.com/us/album/%C3...

Symphonic friends! Is there a website that collates every work that’s being done in all (or a chonk of) the orchestras in the US so that we can go search if certain pieces are scheduled to be performed & which bands are playing them? (And if not, I call dibs on the idea! 😁)

Ok internet… I’m going to Las Vegas for the first time ever (to see Lady Gaga this summer!), and given that there are a plethora of hotels to choose from, I thought I would throw the question out to the masses: if you’ve been to Vegas, where would you advise people to stay (or stay away from!)?

Y’all ain’t never seen a Nettie Fowler like this one 😁

I just heard @neildegrassetyson.com say that our solar system is hurtling through outer space at a rate of 2.1 million kmph. So if my math is correct, that means that we are racing through outer space at a rate of about 362 mph per SECOND. 🤯 That is both so cool and so impossible to fathom!

I just called my reps to Demand the Resignations of Defense Secretary Hegseth and National Security Advisor Waltz — you should too: 5calls.org/issue/pete-h...

I’m in New York just for the day to host the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competiton, and reflecting on how impossible it seems that I did this competition 18 years ago! Where has the time gone?? 😱

A friend of mine who moved to DC a few years ago to start her dream job was unceremoniously stripped of her job today. One of thousands of federal workers who are facing the same thing, but it hits close to home. Trump is systematically dismantling our government, and it’s not right or okay.

I know we’re all thinking of Prince when Lady Gaga gives us this song, but I’m over here *praying* to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that LG and St. Vincent get together and make some music… this reminds me SOOO much of her stuff! open.spotify.com/track/4pNzBb...

I flew with River up to Boston today & ran into a couple of angel humans on the way. One lady helped retrieve River’s carrier from the scanner belt at TSA, and another lady happened to be carrying some cat toys with her that her kids had given her, and gave one to River! 😻 Human kindness is magical.

I’m not a religious person, but I have to believe there is a corner of hell that is reserved for those who make microwaves that don’t stop beeping after you open the door.

Wow: JD Vance is apparently skiing in Vermont this weekend and the locals aren’t having it. Thousands have lined the streets in protest.

The People's Union USA, a grassroots group, is calling on Americans to join a national boycott by not shopping for 24 hours on Friday.

If you want to take a stand about art at the Kennedy Center, buy tickets for this significant and socially relevant work. Staying away hurts the artists more than the administration, and if new work like this sells poorly, it gives them an excuse to say it's unpopular, and stop programming it.

Thank you so much for sharing this!! 💜 And y’all, if you’re interested in seeing a modern and visceral retelling of Schubert’s “Erlkönig”, click below… it’s just fantastic! (Trigger warning: gunshots, blood)

Apparently John C. Reilly was in attendance at our Pauline Oliveros show today (Los Animales with Long Beach Opera), and I more than kinda love that he was down with the experimental classical vibe 😎