Headshot of La Cieca

Cher Public

  • Lindoro Almaviva: Which Price? Leontine? Cause I have news for you about the last 20 or... 2:16 PM
  • Lindoro Almaviva: And so what? Artists make their choices. Where was Rossini at 60? Fat... 2:12 PM
  • Lindoro Almaviva: On completely unrelated news. Opera depot (http://www.ope radepot.co... 2:00 PM
  • Lindoro Almaviva: I worship the groud ATS walks in. For me she is a great example of how... 1:59 PM
  • luvtennis: When Sutherland was a mere lass of 60. Where was Cerquetti at that age? Not... 1:56 PM
  • luvtennis: Absolute rubbish if you are referring to Sutherland. She was greater musician... 1:45 PM
  • luvtennis: To which Anna TS replied to Gwyneth “Oh was that you singing, I thought... 1:40 PM
  • luvtennis: Sorry, but I must disagree. If you listen to Lehmann or Gadski it quickly... 1:28 PM
  • papopera: thats la Sutherland, isn’t she a pain though ? 1:14 PM
  • isepo: Well acc. to Robert Kraft, Stravinsky was continually revising Le sacre until the... 12:57 PM

Archives

Rome (if you want to)

caligula-helen-mirrenEverybody loves an orgy. But, in the words of Betsy Ann Bobolink (pictured), “a really good orgy takes preparation, and I don’t mean Preparation H.”

Our Betsy continues (discussing, I mean) after the jump. Read more »

While the headlines did the rest

advice_cieca_collins_thumbIn a week that includes the news of the release of nearly 100 “lost” Judy Garland performances and the announcement that Bernadette Peters will star as Sally in a lavish revival of Follies, even Betsy Ann Bobolink is hard-pressed to thrill with choices for Saturday afternoon listening. As she so often says, “Maybe something really appealing will turn up tomorrow.” Read more »

Gloomy Saturday

advice_cieca_collins_thumbAll the cool kids will be watching Die Walküre from Bayreuth tomorrow afternoon.

That leaves Betsy Ann Bobolink and the rest of us  sitting by the radio and chatting, chatting.

Read more »

Read more »

The Whales of Chat

Our Own Dear Betsy reports: Right this way, ladies and gentlemen, for The Greatest Show on Earth, the world-famous La Cieca Chat. Feted ("Fated"? "Fetid"?) artistes from the far corners of the planet demolish reputations with a single mot. SEE -- dainty Mam'zelle Manou soar high above the heads of the crowd in flights of aerial fantasy. WONDER -- at the legerdemain of Harry who changes subjects !!! SIX TIMES !!! in a single ten-word sentence. THRILL -- at the duel to the death between ferocious beasts Operacat and Clita_del_Toro. GASP -- as Mighty CruzSF lifts the Napa Opera House using only his . . . . using only . . . his . . . Excuse me, I'll be on the verandah. Read more »

Read more »

It was better than chat!

Last week's listening experiment showed that, left to their own devices, most folks spring into instant inertia. So maybe gentle prodding and encouragement would do some good.  Read more »

Read more »

Chat is jumpin’ and the cotton is high

Your doyenne is occupied this afternoon getting Our Own JJ tweezed, powdered and cinched for his sojourn to Caramoor, and that's a full-time job, my dears, because you know those venues that admit natural light can be most unkind to vain middle-aged queens. As such, La Cieca will leave you to your own devices for this week's chat, which is probably for the best anyway, since according to Operacast at least it's not exactly Sternstunde central. Naturally, La Casa della Cieca will welcome them of you as choose to ... Read more »

Read more »

All talked out

The pickings are slimmish this week for online listening Saturday afternoon, but those of you who are up and around by 11 AM may want to tune in to Die Meistersinger on BBC Radio 3, a concert performance by the Welsh National Opera starring Bryn Terfel. (Though I warn you: per the the Beeb's website, the duration of the performance is scheduled at 6 hours, 15 minutes.) A few briefer selections, courtesy of Our Own Betsy, follow the jump. Read more »

Read more »

Ether or…

Here's home base for the cher public's afternoon opera listening, whichever of the multitude of selections you choose to follow. Read more »