Headshot of La Cieca

Cher Public

  • marshiemarkII: OK caro Noel, now that we have addressed the issue of size/volume, we should discuss dramatic vs... 1:26 AM
  • Buster: Our Vienna correspondent writes on the 11th of this month: Our compatriot Elisabeth Ohms, currently... 1:00 AM
  • zinka: Pour moi, the jaded one, this season I was pleased to welcome into my mind some new sopranos, heard for... 12:56 AM
  • marshiemarkII: My darlings manoucita and Bianchisssima, la Duquesa’s word is as good as gold, so the prize... 12:49 AM
  • marshiemarkII: My adored CammiB, and don’t you think we cause enough trouble already here with the pair... 12:45 AM
  • Camille: That Les Adieux de Marie Stuart is one of Meyerbeer’s best arias, QPFster! Thanks for posting it. 12:25 AM
  • Buster: Thanks a lot, Cocky, had not seen any of those! 12:13 AM
  • Camille: Bianca, is that not from Munich from last year or so? I am not really sure so you’d best ask... 12:07 AM

The lady in question

… is Anna Netrebko, performing “Vieni, t’affretta” from Verdi’s Macbeth at tonight’s opening gala at the Mariinsky. Read more »

La Cieca, like Nature, abhors a vacuum

“Upon my word,” exclaims La Cieca (pictured at right, in the background), “I could almost swear I see a few empty seats on the other side of theater for the Met’s opening night performance of L’elisir d’amore!” Read more »

L’Âge d’Or

A friend of the box just reminded La Cieca that tonight, April 22, 2012 is the 40th anniversary of the farewell gala honoring Sir Rudolf Bing for his two-decade tenure as General Manager of the Met. A few highlights from that gala, following the jump. Read more »

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Horne aplenty

La Cieca has learned that The Metropolitan Opera Guild will pay tribute to  legendary American mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne (right) on Monday, October 31, when stars, fans of opera, and the cream of New York’s society, business, and civic leaders assemble in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria for the Guild’s 77th Annual Luncheon.

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Scotto talks

Parterre’s tutelary diva shares espresso and cookies with parterre’s fave scribe Zachary Woolfe in preparation for the gala Met Legends event honoring her next Sunday.

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My God, it’s full of stars!

Ioan Holender was General Manager of the Wiener Staatsoper for nineteen years, the longest anyone has held this post, and the august institution honored him with the gala to end all galas in the final days of his administration.  With the goal of commemorating each of the 40 new productions premiered at the Staatsoper during Holender’s tenure, the sprawling concert lasts over three hours and is spread over two very full DVDs. With over 40 separate selections from most of the world’s great and near great artists, the end result is a little variable but on the whole an evening [...]

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Face time

As we look forward to New Year’s Eve and to the gala opening of Willy Decker’s La Traviata at the Met, it seems fitting to look back—by way of the official, live, DVD recording of the production’s sensational world premiere at the Salzburg Festival in 2005—to get some sense of what’s behind all the hype. Released in 2005 by Deutsche Grammophon, this recording promises an exciting evening for the Met’s audience on December 31st, but also raises the question of whether the New York premiere will live up to the high expectations set in Salzburg.

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From A to Zeani

An appearance by legendary diva Virginia Zeani is but one of the highlights of tomorrow night’s Marcello Giordani Foundation Concert and Dinner.

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