“Not unlike Calisto and Linfea, two of the nymphs in Cavalli’s 1651 opera La Calisto who inhabit the Arcadia under the spell of the goddess Diana, we meet at river banks, so to speak, and feed each other’s adoration for the Huntress.” Bloggress Lydia Perovi? discusses the “Otter effect” on “relatively reasonable” gay women at…

on April 21, 2011 at 1:21 PM

From time to time the younger queens ask La Cieca, “Why does all the camp date back decades? Did something happen to camp? Why is there no new camp? Where should we look to find our own 21st century camp? Now La Cieca has an answer for you young queens. Look no further! Camp, with…

on August 11, 2010 at 10:06 PM

Given the choice, I’ll take Hans Neuenfels.

on July 25, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Patricia 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.

on March 31, 2010 at 1:55 PM

As La Cieca indicated previously, Francesca Zambello (center) is going to add the notch of General and Artistic Director of Glimmerglass Opera to her already bulging belt. [NYT] 

on March 11, 2010 at 7:31 PM

[Variety]

on November 11, 2009 at 7:13 PM

The legendary costume designer for film was born October 28, 1897 in Searchlight, Nevada. Miss Head dressed practically everyone in Hollywood, including Helen Traubel, seen after the jump in an outtake from the 1961 comedy The Ladies’ Man.

on October 28, 2009 at 11:10 AM

Out Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, profiled in today’s NYT for his friendly arm-twisting tactics in support of New York’s bill to legalize same-sex marriage, is not only the brother of Rosie O’Donnell, but also the partner of John Banta, who has probably the most festive title of anyone who doesn’t work directly with Issac Mizrahi. Banta…

on May 12, 2009 at 8:22 AM

Well, the first thing La Cieca will say about the Met’s 125th Anniversary Gala is that for all its sprawling splendor it doesn’t look quite what you’d call entertaining. Or rather let’s say it looks as if it won’t sound very entertaining. The visual element — you know, computer-animated Marc Chagall murals and Waltraud Meier…

on November 27, 2008 at 11:23 AM

Sopranos Deborah Voigt and Patricia Racette and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham made their drag king debut on Sunday night, and for once the gender confusion has nothing to do with Rufus Wainwright. The trio of songstresses donned tuxes for a spoof of the Three Tenors at a gala honoring Placido Domingo‘s 40th anniversary at the Met.…

on September 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM

As several of you informed La Cieca (some in no uncertain terms) our most recent Regiequiz was a bit dodgy — the opera represented was hardly a standard repertory work, and the stage direction was fairly straightforward. Richard “Wallpaper” Jones directed this production of Gerald Barry’s The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, a Bremen…

on May 18, 2008 at 3:46 PM

Here’s a rousing opening number by the original company of The Sound of Music. At about 3:33 it’s hard to miss a very familiar face. Stay with the video even after glimpsing our surprise religieuse for an earful of Patrica Neway‘s “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” with more than enough vocal goods to compensate for the “Queen…

on February 28, 2008 at 1:45 PM

Our Own Sanford reports from this afternoon’s National Council Grand Finals Concert at the Met. First things first: No hunkentenors, but Edward Parks is a barihunk, and Christopher Magiera is almost a barihunk. Now to the important stuff. There were nine singers in the final, and I would say that 10 of them deserved to…

on February 24, 2008 at 9:22 PM

The author, now viewed as an early feminist, based the plot on her own difficult experience with postpartum depression, which was then diagnosed as a nervous disorder curable only by a long period of bed rest, over-feeding and withdrawal from the world of family and friends. The character in the opera ends up going mad…

on February 15, 2008 at 1:00 PM

Unfortunately, on this occasion, the text is all too apt. Fiorenza Cossotto in 2007 (!) demonstrates why it is better to quit while you are ahead.

on February 05, 2008 at 10:25 AM

…am dunklen Hage. Oh, and by the way, it’s always a delight to hear news about dear Lucine Amara!

on February 04, 2008 at 11:35 PM

Which star of a recent new Met production showed up at an industry party on Thursday night with her new girlfriend in tow? It seems the diva is extending her sojourn in Manhattan to spend more time with this new (and very young) flame she met in the restroom of a downtown lesbian bar.

on February 02, 2008 at 2:13 AM

It certainly is not news that lesbians are pretty handy around the opera house, whether it’s singing Octavian or running the light board. But the English National Opera is hoping that the promise of hot girl-on-girl action will give their box office a woody. The company is advertising their production of a new work called…

on September 04, 2005 at 5:55 PM