February 2010

“L’etoile fait tout”

“Maybe this bold staging was a little overwrought. But when you have Ms. Garanca as Carmen, why not?” Anthony Tommasini offers an object lesson in the art of Criticism as Starfucking.

Joementum

“Joseph Volpe, who served as the Met’s general manager from 1990 to 2006 and authored a memoir about the experience called The Toughest Show on Earth, has been hired by Mr. Gelb, his successor, to represent the company in upcoming contract negotiations with its three major labor unions.”   [New York Observer]

Kam der neue Gott gegangen

La Cieca hears that Lance Ryan, scheduled to make his Met debut tonight in Ariadne auf Naxos, is indisposed.  Subbing as Bacchus is Michael Hendrick.

Fair and balanced blind item

Which sour face has suddenly reappeared at the Met because the board wants the toughest possible representation during upcoming union negotiations?

“That concept is insane!”

“Director Manfred Schweigkofler conceives a new production that pits the Capulets and Montagues against one another as dueling fashion houses. Against a backdrop of models, paparazzi and high style, Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other unfolds to its deadly conclusion.” [Opera Company of Philadelphia]

Jamais Vu

Maestro James Levine leaps onto the “mono-play” bandwagon. [Photo: Hiroyuki Ito for The New York Times] Cher public, you are invited to contribute your ideas for captions for this unusual photo.

Impossible things are happening every day

Remember “Toi et Moi,” the pectacular music video from which the above image is grabbed? Well, the terrific twosome who brought you that indelible video and perhaps slightly more delible audio, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Igor Krutoi, have done it again. Their newest collaboration, “a once-in-a-lifetime musical event” called “Deja Vu” arrives at Radio City Music…

Now just a simple little frock

Multiple-threat Isaac Mizrahi, like everyone else it seems, really wants to direct; and direct he shall for Opera Theater of St. Louis this summer, helming A Little Night Music. And designing the sets and costumes too. [Playbill]

Happy Birthday Renata Tebaldi

The “Voice of an Angel” was born February 1, 1922.

Have I stayed too long at the Regie?

Right you are if you think you are, cher public! Our most recent Regie quiz did indeed depict a new production of Wagner’s Rienzi, directed by Philipp Stölzl. (Photo credit: Bettina Stoess im Auftrag der Deutschen Oper Berlin) No handy dome-shaped landmarks in this next quiz, cher public, so La Cieca will leave you to…