Despite a few doubters among you, our most recent Regie quiz was (marginally) guessable, as Doug D. demonstrated. The opera is indeed Cavalli’s Eliogabalo, and it looks as if a good time was had by all at Grange Park Opera.
These people too look like they’re having a hell of a time. But what (relatively less obscure) opera are they in? Read more »
La Cieca has found further proof that time is cyclical. Presenting, from over 60 years ago, a film documentary about a production of Carmen that has not taken place yet — if indeed it ever will! Read more »
[La Cieca is happy to present a guest review by Our Own Lindoro Almaviva.]
Cincinnati Opera makes a good case for the 4 act version of Don Carlo. I think it is a great idea that they used projected titles to give us the background of the opera (since we lose the Fontainebleau scene). This gave the production an almost cinematic start and maybe this was the reason why I was more receptive to it. Kudos to whomever had the idea, it worked.
The opera was performed in a unit set with some movable parts that gave it variety. Overall, they were pretty to look most of the time. The set designer did not give us a set that inspired awe, but it was not on the way either, so I feel it worked. The one problem I found with it was that it felt claustrophobic. It made the Cincinnati stage look quite small. Read more »
Don’t expect much in the way of art at NYCO for the next few seasons, but, on the bright side, George Steel probably has sufficient water-treading skills to avoid drowning. [NYT]
The fucking genius of Peter Gelb just opened a new and heretofore unexpected orifice. Encouraged by the success of the Met’s HD movie broadcasts, The National Theatre in London earlier this evening telecast its production of Phèdre starring Helen Mirren into 300 cinemas around the world. Photo by Catherine Ashmore. [One Cold Hand - NYC]
Among the glitterari at last night’s opening of “a Madison Avenue pop-up thrift shop benefiting the renovated New York City Opera” were Austin Scarlett (Project Runway) and Alex McCord (Real Housewives of New York City). As they (and others less celebrated) perused the gently-used frocks, George Steel discussed tube steak with the Wall Street Journal: There are no good chili dogs in New York, he said, “but I just had an incredible chili dog in St. Louis” at the Goody Goody Diner. For regular franks in the city, Steel says he likes Schaller & Weber’s wieners and Hallo Berlin. Meanwhile, [...]
“You will forgive me my poor dramatic skills. I have only been performing the role of Violetta for six years!”
Divine camp from the turn of the century. [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/KDJ5X-hdWEM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Cher Public