La Cieca hopes you aren’t under the misapprehension that only stars (or would-be stars) are capable of filth-level performances. A true “sporcizianista” can fuck up even such apparently foolproof music as the few lines of Ines in the first act of Trovatore:
Well, no, Charles Wuorinen has not finished his Brokeback Mountain opera quite yet. In fact, this photo is from a new staging of a standard repertory work. Can you identify it? (Guesses only, please — if you know this production, please recuse yourself!)
What can take a sunrise / Sprinkle it in dew / Cover it in chocolate / and a miracle or two? The Malibran Van!
Our Own Little Stevie reflects on the Met’s new Macbeth. I’d like to admit a guilty pleasure of mine: I’ve secretly been waiting with a lot of anticipation for Maria Guleghina to sing in Macbeth and Norma this year. I have not told this to many people because it seems that the common expectation has been that she would be just short of a train wreck in both roles. Many of my wise opera buddies have commented on her wild/out-of-control/harsh/shrill/screamy/erratic voice and technique, and her inability to execute coloratura work. Yet anyone who saw Trittico or Cavalleria last season must [...]
Adept arbiter Anne Midgette has announced her farewell to The New York Times, moving on up to the Washington Post where she will reign as interim chief critic beginning January 1. The WaPo‘s current chief critic, Tim Page, is off to teach a semester at USC and, who knows, may extend his stay in academe to something more lasting. We here at parterre.com will miss la Midgette’s pungent and always well-supported critiques of New York performances, and we look forward to her take on the WNO.
All right, cher public, now that the competion is closed, La Cieca will reveal the 20 singers performing the composite “Ernani involami.” First, you might want to listen to the original clip one more time. Now, ready? Here are our 20 divas, pictured and named. Just click on the YouTube clip to play.
More photos of Erwin Schrott and (by the way) a story about the Washington National Opera’s new production of Don Giovanni at PlaybillArts. (A Don G. this hot may well transform DC to AC!)
Totally pulled together. Class act. Doing what comes naturally. Well played! Call it what you will, but, fair is fair: this is great stuff.
Cher Public