La Cieca (pictured, right) invites you to peruse what’s making headlines today: the conclusion of Zachary Woolfe‘s analysis of the HD telecasts, an interview with former blogger Brad Wilber, and a peculiar take on the Met’s Ring from dance critic Alastair Macaulay.
The repertory for the 2012-2013 season of the English National Opera (also known as “Peter Gelb‘s shopping list”) boasts the premiere of a new opera by Philip Glass, The Perfect American, which imagines the last days of Walt Disney. It’s a co-production with Madrid’s Teatro Real and stars bass Christopher Purves as the legendary filmmaker. The company’s program also features nine new productions, including stagings by Peter Konwitschny, Calixto Bieito, David McVicar and Richard Jones. [the arts desk]
Opera Orchestra of New York just announced that it has cancelled the March 7 opera-in-concert presentation of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra. “The loss of anticipated funding has made it impossible for the company to move forward with the planned production,” said a press release. Read more »
According to a statement issued this morning, Opera Boston is ceasing operations as of January 1. [Boston.com]
UPDATE: A source at tonight’s Met Faust tells La Cieca that after Wendy White fell from a platform on her entrance into the garden scene, there was an intermission, then “…her cover [Theodora] Hanslowe went on from the ‘Eh quoi, toujours seule’ . . . . At second intermission now. Announcement just made that Wendy is ok but sent to ER for a precautionary measure. Show is delayed by 40 minutes so far.”
James Levine will not conduct this spring or in the entire 2012-2013 season, says a press release from the Met. The most apparent result of this decision is that Fabio Luisi is now officially on the podium for all three of this spring’s Ring cycles. The complete press release follows the jump.
UPDATE: Blogger Out West Arts reflects on the “Occupy Wall Street” incident at the Met’s Faust last night, noting that the shouts (and various responses from members of the audience) did not interrupt the music.
The Machine malfunctioned tonight in Siegfried at the Met, only one performance behind schedule. La Cieca is told that the final transition to the “Valkyrie Rock” could not be completed. ”Just as Siegfried was starting his climb, multiple planks thudded into ‘down’ position. Lots of shouting into walkie-talkies. The set never moved again,” a witness IMed parterre. No injuries are reported.
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