Headshot of La Cieca

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You’re going to scoop just what you sow

hanging_on_thumbYou know how you have this old friend you’ve known for 20 years now, who’s always been a little nuts, or gets a little high, or just is, you know, eccentric, but in a way that is so clueless that it’s kind of endearing? Someone you can count on for a laugh, because you always can say, “Oh, no, not that again?”

And then one day they get married or get religion or get a job or just, you know, grow up, and, while, in absolute terms, obviously there’s a lot more peace and contentment there, and you’re happy for them, really you are, but at the same time, deep down in your heart, you go, “Oh, but I do miss some of the shit that crazy bitch used to do!”

La Cieca is not talking about Lou Reed.

53 comments

  • Harry says:

    LOVE it! What’s wrong with Renee’ enjoying herself. At least she is not like all those other po-faced opera singers that think ‘making it look a big big effort’ when singing is ‘the big deal’.If she choose to really crossover anytime proper, she would make probably bigger dough. Her perfume would go through the roof and sell by the gallon load. And she would not have to put up with bitches’ comments …on parterre! How frustrated they must be….Renee’ does not appear to even have any over weight problem for them to mention or snark at! Poor things!

  • djedushka says:

    HOORAY FOR HARRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Alto says:

    Harry, I ask just as a point of information: Who do you imagine is going to pay her those millions for her crossover performances?

    • Countess Guess-wit says:

      Our moms.

      • tannengrin says:

        I only have two daddies, but, yep, they’ll buy it.

      • Alto says:

        You may be right, but I see no sign of it. Publicists, and other people who are paid to enthuse plus the occasional fangurl are, so far as I can see, her giddy base. The mostly dependable work she does in opera productions is the source of her very, very large income. It takes an awful lot of sales to make up for that, and the kind of sales she garners don’t even make a ripple in the pop world.

  • MontyNostry says:

    Well, I guess Lou Reed and his Perfect Day makes a change from Louise and hers (as in Depuis le …).

  • rysanekfreak says:

    A couple of days ago, there was a webcast of Renee’s recent concert in Spain, and she was very good. She sang from Verdi’s Otello, some Strauss songs, and then a lot of arias from her Verismo CD. It was a very good concert for an enthralled audience. She was on her very best behavior vocally, especially during the Strauss. And who else these days would sing an aria from Zandonai’s Conchita as an encore? One strange thing: the big Armida aria was listed as being performed, but we didn’t get to hear it.

    • MontyNostry says:

      I just heard the verismo CD and she is, indeed, on good vocal behaviour most of the time. Fewer gulps and sobs than she sometimes adds to the Four Last Songs. But it’s a strangely dull album.

  • Will says:

    I thought she sounded great–this is one lady who seems not to be having a circa 50year old vocal crisis–and that her styling was just fine for the music. HE was the one whose voice was shot. I’m happy to second harry and rysanekfreak on this one.

  • olddansker says:

    La Cieca is not talking about Lou Reed, but she damn well should be. I bow to know one in wanting to walk on the wild side, but, let’s face it, watching him up there is painful, pitiable. Like Leonard Cohen’s recent tour. Please, leave my very cool memories alone. Go back to the retirement community and play bingo.

    • olddansker says:

      should have edited before posting. Obviously I mean “no” one, not “know” one. Embarrassed but not bowed.

  • javier says:

    Lou sounds horrible but Renee sounds great. She was invited because she a favorite of the former president of the Czech Republic because he adores her Rusalka. She did not choose to sing this song, and you can tell from the fact that she’s reading the score as she goes along that she probably had to learn it that very same day.

    rysanekfreak is right about the recent radio broadcast. She was in fine form but we didn’t get to hear the Armida. There are a few short videos of the Armida out there on the internet, but not complete. From the video clips I thing she sounded even better than she did when she sang it last summer. Armida at the Met should be a real success because she can still sing this opera, which she first sang 17 years ago, surprisingly well.

  • thomas says:

    Renee also sang Song to the Moon and an aria from Dalibor at this concert in Prague, but, of course, La Cieca only posts the crossover selection. How about some credit where credit is due?

    • javier says:

      The Rusalka is on youtube, but is the Dalibor? She recorded the Dalibor aria for her Age of the Diva recording and it is great, at least in the recording studio. I’ve never heard her do it live.

  • parpignol says:

    I actually thought she sounded great!
    looks to me like Havel is enjoying it, Madeline Albright maybe not so much; La Cieca, can you tell us a little more about the event? and what else was on the program for the two of them to sing?