Headshot of La Cieca

Cher Public

  • MontyNostry: Well, let’s just say the opera’s been renamed Canerentola. 9:14 AM
  • MontyNostry: Admittedly, I’ve only heard her live once, and that was in a song recital, but I was struck by... 9:07 AM
  • floridante2k: Poliuto :) 9:02 AM
  • PushedUpMezzo: http://intermezzo. typepad.com/interm ezzo/2012/05/falst aff-royal-opera-ho use-2012.html#comm ents... 8:36 AM
  • Cocky Kurwenal: And how did your dog do? 8:29 AM
  • Feldmarschallin: Well just back from the Cenerentola Hauptprobe where my dog plays in the storm scene. Di Donato... 8:27 AM
  • Cocky Kurwenal: Ian, this is why we need a like button :-) 8:26 AM
  • Cocky Kurwenal: What made you go 3 times? Odd behaviour if you think the singer in the title role is an... 8:25 AM

Into the lion’s mouth!

The ineffable Leyla Gencer gives a master class in grandezza in the latest episode of Unnatural Acts of Opera. The diva stars as La Gioconda in a live 1971 performance of Ponchielli’s opera.

6 comments

  • Richard Loeb says:

    The kind of big, unapologetic singing we need today; not always pretty, not always technically “correct” but never dull and the kind of singing this work needs.

  • Anonymous says:

    Cieca:

    Great choice. And thanks for act II, but darling, what’s with the echo in the introductions?

  • Anonymous says:

    Say, did anyone ever win the opera quiz for Norma?

  • La Cieca says:

    To answer your questions: the echo on the intros was a technical flub, corrected for Act 3. And, yes, there was indeed a winner in the NORMA contest — to be announced during the Act 4 GIOCONDA podcast.

  • Personovich says:

    Enjoying the hell out of this, and the intro for Act III was a scream.

  • Fernandoclassic says:

    La Cieca,

    Want to thank you for making this available. I really enjoyed the ipodcast. Found the commentaries witty and delightful. Keep up the good work!

    Fernando