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  • MontyNostry: As I understand it, all AVA tuition is free to the students....
  • m. croche: And commiserations on this day to Aleksander Pushkin, wh...
  • phoenix: Very interesting. Does audience expression/reaction determi...
  • phoenix: There were always mediocre casts available at the Met for th...
  • manou: Keks - this is very funny. My husband and I read it at the G...
  • Nerva Nelli: I was lucky to hear Ciofi sing Lucie in Paris in 2002 with T...
  • Nerva Nelli: Yes, it's high time they brought him back in a leading part....
  • La Cieca: There is also the point that the Met is very strict about it...
  • armerjacquino: Ciofi has hardly ever sung outside Europehttp://ciofi.bl...
  • Quanto Painy Fakor: Even though Kyle Kettleson is known in major roles in intern...

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Alla cantata ancor manca la diva

racette_toscaPatricia Racette will sing the title role in Puccini’s Tosca on April 14, 17, 20, and 24 matinee, replacing Karita Mattila, “who is ill” — this just in from the Met’s press office.

Dies alles – hab ich nur geträumt?

Parsifal_stuttgartThis production, though obvious Regie fodder, looks far too interesting to wait for our regular Sunday night quiz! Video after the jump. Read more »

Get out your handkerchiefs

met_traviata_sohlAngela Gheorghiu‘s triumph in La Traviata Monday night at the Met was a searing reminder of why we go to opera in the first place.” [NY Post]

Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

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Confection on a Dance Floor

La Cieca breathlessly offers you a sneak preview of one of this spring’s most eagerly awaited CDs. 

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Across a crowded plaza

Recently denasaled bass-baritone Paulo Szot returns to South Pacific at the Vivian Beaumont tomorrow. [Broadwayworld.com]

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Someday their prince won’t come

According to Anne Midgette, baritone Carlos Alvarez has withdrawn from Washington National Opera’s production of Hamlet, to be replaced by Michael Chioldi and Liam Bonner, with their individual dates TBA. [The Classical Beat]

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Kiss kiss

“Diva! The very word evokes tantrums, unreasonable demands — and the wrath of Aretha Franklin denied her Snickers bar.” Our Own JJ (not pictured) discusses divadom with Angela Gheorghiu in the New York Post.

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Deutsche treat

Boy, this review practically writes itself. I’ve heard Jonas Kaufmann’s Alfredo live and was duly impressed, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this recording. All I can say about Jonas Kaufmann: Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven & Wagner (Decca 4781463), to be released April 6, 2010, is that it went straight to both my iPod and home music server and has been getting heavy play while cooking dinner, driving, ironing or just hanging out.

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