Headshot of La Cieca

Cher Public

  • Camille: Gee, that is bizarre—R 11;I was thinking of you a while back and wanting to let you know I HAD... 4:02 PM
  • kashania: I also checked out the second act finale and agree completely. It’s rare that a moment of hysteria... 3:59 PM
  • Lucy: Like arepo, I’m seeing Andrea Chenier: 1. Courtroom scene, just before “Si, fui soldato.”... 3:51 PM
  • grimoaldo: Hi Camille, you were interested in “Craig’ ;s Wife” with Rosalind Russell.I watched... 3:20 PM
  • Camille: “Inno ad Imene”. Sorry. Just had to try it on for size. Thanks, operaguy. 3:11 PM
  • lorenzo.venezia: hair-raising. that’s why the tee shirts were so surprising. it has been a while since the... 3:04 PM
  • operaguy: Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor is a Cole Porter song from “Red, Hot and Blue” –... 2:56 PM
  • Clita del Toro: Cammie, well, Swiffers do make this old lady’s life much easier. You can Swiffer around the... 2:54 PM

Darkest before the dawn

dak_hope_15_hoursThe greatest week in the history of show business begins today in preparation for the Drop of That Album here in the USA, at this writing barely 15 hours away. In support of this release, Renée Fleming is making a whirlwind tour of personal appearances, including a command performance last night before President and Mrs. Obama at historic Ford’s Theater. She shared the boards of the venue where the “Great Emancipator” was assassinated with Kelly Clarkson, George Lopez, Lionel Richie, Dick Van Dyke, and cast members from the Ford’s Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors.

Undaunted by this lavishly star-studded extravaganza, Our Own proud parterrian Faux Paul devised an hommage, after the jump.

46 comments

  • soubrettino says:

    I laughed until I saw stars. My favorite part was writing ‘La voce’ on the mirror when the lyrics were saying ‘Won’t let you down’. So poignant!

  • louannd says:

    So wonderful. Reminds me of my daily work reviewing charts: Hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness. Denies SI/HI. Estimated length of stay 7-10 days. HA!

  • DrugProduct says:

    Absolutely genial. Brava Faux Paul. Loved the balerina part, so Mary Zimmerman-esque. And I too was fulled by the voice, only realized that it is Renee’s voice when some of the mannerisms became too evident, towards the middle of the song, up until that point I was admiring Faux Paul’s voice.

  • SFPhoto says:

    LC, I truly hope you excuse yourself from reviewing any further Renee Fleming performances for the NY Observer. I sincerely doubt you have any objectivity about anything she might do or any role she might perform.

    • La Cieca says:

      Okay, you’ve earned a break from commenting.

      • operadunce says:

        La Cieca: Did you just banish SFPhoto for this rather mildly stated criticism? Wow!

    • LittleMasterMiles says:

      What would an objective critic look like, exactly?

      LC’s ire over Speranza Oscura is very appropriately aimed at the hype as much as anything else.

      As for the music, I think she brings a slightly richer tone to this song than you might get from Celine Dionne, say, or Tracey Thorne. But it hardly matters—a fabulous voice in highly processed techno-pop is as wasted as a Lotus on a dirt road. Which does rather make the whole enterprise a pretty dubious choice, no?

      We all appreciate your sincerity, though, I’m sure.

      • operadunce says:

        Actually, it seems as though La Cieca has done quite a bit of the hyping.

        • LittleMasterMiles says:

          You have a point — I haven’t heard diddly-poop about Dunkle Hoffnung anyplace but here. Still, if a girl will visit La Voce’s website the hyperbole is just hung out like crepe….

  • Now, this is crossover:

    • wladek says:

      crossover ?? it’s ridiculous second
      rate-what they need is an overly
      fat tenor with a tablecloth.

  • BETSY_ANN_BOBOLINK says:

    I’m going into seclusion until all this Renee shit blows over. It’s just too tiresome.

  • operadunce says:

    mrmyster: Oh! At least there was a good reason!

  • CruzSF says:

    12 hours later: still brilliant.

  • CruzSF says:

    I go out for a little drinkie-poo and now everyone’s gone.

  • Quanto Painy Fakor says:

    Opera Chic has just printed her translation of one of Renay’s proudest moments – a letter she received from Magda Olivero praising the verismo CD !!