‘Elisir’ not quite ‘rara qualita’ ‘Elisir’ not quite ‘rara qualita’

On paper, the Met’s revival of L’elisir d’amore looked like a lovely evening.  And at times it was—a few scenes hinted at what it could be and what it might yet become.

on January 13, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Stained class Stained class

With no disrespect to Nadine Sierra, who as Lucia acquits herself honorably if not magically in vocal terms, the undisputed cause célèbre here is director Simon Stone.

on April 24, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Camarena delivers Camarena delivers

From the multiple standing ovations, to say nothing of the gentleman in the front row waving the Mexican flag, I can safely say that a very good time was had by all.

on April 08, 2022 at 3:27 PM
Honor and harmony Honor and harmony

It’s that time of year again, cher public: the 47th 15th annual announcement of the recipients of the F. Paul Driscoll Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence!

on November 26, 2019 at 12:50 PM
I believe in unicorns I believe in unicorns

Sunday evening Los Angeles Opera presented tenor Javier Camarena in recital to a wildly enthusiastic audience from the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

on October 24, 2019 at 8:48 AM
Tucker everlasting Tucker everlasting

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s annual gala promises (note, promises) a particularly glittery roster this year.

on August 08, 2016 at 3:01 PM
Chat: I puritani Chat: I puritani

“King of the High D’s” Javier Camarena headlines an HD video performance of I puritani this afternoon live from the Compañia Nacional de Ópera in Mexico.

on May 22, 2016 at 11:02 AM
Light from shadow Light from shadow

Javier Camarena offered a performance carefully calibrated to a more intimate venue that nonetheless offered emotionally potent results.

on March 27, 2016 at 10:46 AM
About a boy About a boy

These days a cadre of voluble opera-goers regularly issues dire warnings that anyone about to attend this or that production at the Met should close her eyes and just listen rather than witness yet another Peter Gelb regie “atrocity.”

on March 07, 2016 at 9:33 AM
Project runway Project runway

Some ideas are so absurd that the only way to describe them is to simply use the liner notes.

on May 27, 2014 at 12:48 PM
There is something I must do, there is something I must do There is something I must do, there is something I must do

Your Own La Cieca has emerged from semi-retirement to present the 2014 Pubie Awards.

on May 22, 2014 at 8:15 AM
Count me in Count me in

The legions of New York opera buffs who now can’t talk about anything but Javier Camarena will be happy to know that there’s now a DVD release of their new favorite tenor in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory available.

on April 25, 2014 at 8:15 AM
The man on the wedding cake The man on the wedding cake

Though at the moment we have no indication that there will be a cast change for the final three performances of La Cenerentola at tha Met, La Cieca does think the group mind should apply itself to the pressing question of exactly wbich tenor will appear in the HD telecast on May 10.

on April 23, 2014 at 5:28 PM
Goodness had everything to do with it Goodness had everything to do with it

The Met stage was filled with considerable magic Monday night when its dizzily effervescent revival of La Cenerentola starring Joyce DiDonato and Javier Camarena stirred a bewitched audience to some of the most ecstatic ovations heard this season.

on April 22, 2014 at 9:53 AM
Man of the future Man of the future

Javier Camerena, “as close to a rock star as the Met has produced from its male roster this season,” has big plans with the company, with at least four roles planned for future seasons.

on April 20, 2014 at 7:41 PM
Someday my prince will come Someday my prince will come

Javier Camarena will sing the role of Prince Ramiro in the season’s three initial performances of Rossini’s La Cenerentola on April 21, 25, and 28, replacing Juan Diego Flórez, who is ill.”

on April 03, 2014 at 5:57 PM
Liebestraum Liebestraum

“Opera can, in fact, be something beautiful and moving even when all a performance has going for it is some really excellent singing.”

on March 18, 2014 at 2:20 PM
A dream walking A dream walking

The hostile reaction to the Mary Zimmerman production of La sonnambula was well documented after the premiere in 2009.

on March 15, 2014 at 1:31 PM