October 2009
First was littoraldrift, but funniest was Krunoslav in our most recent and (as one might say) entry-level Regie quiz, the answer to which was rather too obviously Falstaff. So, on to something more challenging this week, after the jump.
La Cieca realizes it’s not quite fair to judge an artist from a few minutes of video or from what is apparently a dress rehearsal. But it doesn’t seem to be going out on much of a limb to say: this Nadja Michael can’t sing.
I hate it when this happens. Rosenkavalier Duet
The Metropolitan Opera commission Daedalus by Osvaldo Golijov seems to have slipped through the cracks, for now at least. According to the virtually always accurate Met Futures by Brad Wilber, the premiere of the work, planned for the 2011-2012 season, is not going to take place.
“The answer, he decided, was obvious: an opera. In typical Burning Man fashion, as he was standing in line at the port-a-potties, describing this epiphany to…” [CNET]
La Cieca is delighted to wake up to some wonderful, uplifting news. No, not about the balloon boy; turns out that was a hoax anyway. This “rescue” is for real. Amore Opera, successor to downtown institution Amato Opera, will present its first full production, Puccini’s La Bohème opening on Friday, December 11th at the Connelly…
Congratulations to our two winners of the Rosenkavalier essay contest. The lovely rysanekfreak came in first in the “Ja, Ja” division, while Tristram Minstrel was judged the most astute of the many “Nein, Nein” sayers. Our rysanekfreak will be sent the new Decca DVD of the opera starring La Fleming, Sophie Koch, Diana Damrau, Franz…
Wien, 18. Oktober 2009
According to a press release from the Met, Fabio Luisi (left) will conduct all performances of Hansel and Gretel this season replacing Andrew Davis (not pictured) who has withdrawn for personal reasons.
“She was pretty but blank onstage back then, but Tuesday night’s opening performance found her too far the other direction, transforming the ironic, moody aristocrat into a Lifetime movie drama queen.” [NYP]
“Tenor Domingo collects opera gong” [BBC News]
[La Cieca is delighted to introduce a new reviewer, @scazzasofija.] I found Rosenkavalier (Met, Oct. 13) to be mostly sublime. My quibbles come from a preference for Kleiber’s tempos. I found that de Waart was waving his arms as fast as he could for the beginning, but I think the prelude and up until the…
Maria Gavrilova jumps in as Tosca tonight at the Met, replacing the ailing Karita Mattila.
Whenever La Cieca (center) feels afraid, she doesn’t just hold her head erect or whistle a happy tune (though she’s been known to do both on occasion), she reminds herself, “You know, things could be a lot worse than what they are!”
Tonight’s chat during tonight’s season premiere of Der Rosenkavalier from the Met begins at 7:15 pm.
In the comments section of this post, you are invited to offer your opinion on why Renée Fleming‘s broadcast performance (as heard tonight, October 13) strikes you as a great portrayal of the Marschallin.
In the comments section of this post, you are invited to offer your opinion on why Renée Fleming‘s broadcast performance (as heard tonight, October 13) strikes you as not a great portrayal of the Marschallin.
I’m not sure who I find more annoying – the partisans who vigorously defend Luc Bondy‘s production of Tosca at the Met or those who decry it. As Bondy’s production replaces one of the Met’s signature offerings, both groups have seized on this event as a watershed event in the history of opera in America…
“Unfaithful lovers, sequined jumpsuits and giant silver dildos …. neon wigs and abundant confetti…. Filled with sexual innuendo, laughable levels of innocence and more than a few macho groin thrusts…” [Star Observer]
Oh, La Cieca just hates herself when she get a detail wrong. It seems that languid wunderkind Rufus Wainwright will not be performing his hit aria “Les feux d’artifice” at the gala opening of the New York City Opera saluting noted teabagger David H. Koch. The air will be performed by an actual operatic soprano,…
Good news for La Cieca’s competitive public! Tomorrow night during the Der Rosenkavalier chat (beginning at 7:15 pm), you all are invited to compete for recently released recordings of the beloved R. Strauss classic. After the jump, you’ll learn how it works.
The legendary singer was born October 12, 1935.
Which blotto basso had a hell of a time in the first part of that French opera, stumbling, forgetting words, and even losing his voice temporarily? Fortunately, after an intermission featuring hot coffee, a cold shower and a stern tongue-lashing from management, he was reborn as the superb singing actor we all know and love…
La Cieca congratulates matto per la lirica for identifying our most recent Regie quiz: Offenbach’s L’Ile de Tulipatan — as performed at the Wiener Kammeroper, with Waut Koeken directing. And now for something completely different.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
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