January 2008
The Associated Press has the first review of Rolando Villazón‘s return to the stage earlier today in a performance of Werther at the Vienna Staatsoper. Reporter George Jahn says the audience’s “huge expectations… were mostly – but not completely – met.” Apparently the tenor’s high B’s sometimes failed to soar over the Massenet orchestral climaxes,…
Today, January 5, is the 91st anniversary of the birth of one of La Cieca’s particular heroes, Wieland Wagner, stage director and designer. Here is a scene from Wieland’s legendary production of Tristan und Isolde featuring Birgit Nilsson and Wolfgang Windgassen. In this clip, Wieland is seen in rehearsal for his 1965 production of Der…
Noel Coward offers a few observations on the standard operatic repertoire, assisted by Margaret Leighton.
And what might this opera be? Answer to our previous Regierätsel: Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice.
La Cieca has just been reminded of the intriguing news that Gotham Chamber Opera, in collaboration with The Morgan Library & Museum, will present a new production, Scenes of Gypsy Life (a cautionary tale featuring music of Janácek and Dvorák), on January 16 and 17. The program devised by GCO artistic director Neal Goren and…
Just a little over 24 hours from now, Rolando Villazón is scheduled to return to the operatic stage following an absence of nearly six months. He is announced for a revival of Werther at the Vienna State Opera tomorrow night, January 5, beginning at 19.30 (1:30 EST). Followup plans for the tenor this month include…
In fact, she became Peggy Lee.
Another poll, this time asking which events are the absolute must-sees here in New York this spring. Please note that on this poll you can choose more than one “must-see,” which is a good thing, because everything looks most tempting!
The diva hazard bonus: a special above-and-beyond payoff to those who have patiently put up with a colleague’s diva antics. La Cieca cannot find any official instance of this bonus in the world of opera, but surely it’s an incredible idea. … Kim Cattrall was such a diva to work with on the Sex and…
La Dessay rehearses the “bathtub scene” from Manon. Sorry, folks, the video is no longer available for embedding at the request of the uploader, Parsifal1979. You can view it, however, on the YouTube site.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
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