There were a disproportionate number of young people at the Met today—even younger than me, which is really young. That made me happy and smile while filing in line to enter the auditorium. Hopefully this is the next generation of undying fans and queens about to plunge into a “new” world of opera spearheaded by John Adams‘ Nixon in China from the 80s: a MET premiere no less!
But let’s get to the dish of this dress. Read more »
Graham Vick’s production of Macbeth at the Teatro alla Scala in the 1997/98 season had become famous, or infamous, for centering its spirit and energies on a big cube dominating both sets and singers. David Pountney exploited the same idea of a “cubic” Macbeth in his production of the Verdi masterpiece for the Opernhaus Zürich in 2001 (staged a few years later also in San Francisco), now re-released on DVD
La Cieca (pictured) is going to go out on a limb here, cher public, based on bits and pieces of gossip, a hard fact or two, and her own occasionally flawed powers of ratiocination.
Her prediction: James Levine will retire as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 season.
Further details of this prophetical vision follow the jump. Read more »
Today’s afternoon chat should be a special treat for the legions of Radvandovskyites out there in Extended Parterriana. The Tosca palaver will begin at 1:00 pm.
The great Welsh soprano, superb interpreter of Mozart, Verdi and Lieder, died earlier today. She was 69. [Washington Post]
La Cieca has obviously not been paying attention, because she totally missed the announcement that Denyce Graves is going to join the cast of The Real Housewives of DC. Oh, she’s not, you say? So then what’s the explanation for these new headshots?
Our Own JJ salutes three sister bloggers (of whom only one is female) in his current Rough and Regie column at Musical America.
BREAKING! In a sudden and shocking turn of events, James Levine will go on as scheduled tonight, conducting Simon Boccanegra at the Met. However, according to an email from the Carnegie Hall press office, the maestro “and The MET Chamber Ensemble must regrettably cancel their concert scheduled for this Sunday, January 30 at 5:00 p.m. in Weill Recital Hall” due to the “viral infection” that forced him to miss Monday night’s performance of Boccanegra at the Met. La Cieca will keep you updated on this fast-breaking story as it develops.
Cher Public