parterre box

La Cieca has just been informed that Boston Lyric Opera “is mere hours away” from announcing their new Director of Artistic Operations, Nicholas Russell (formerly of Glimmerglass Opera before the regime coup there). It should be noted that although Russell is “dall’ immondo sangue degl’inglesi dei scozie,” he is a naturalized U.S. citizen, so it’s debatable whether he should be called a “fucking Brit.” (La Cieca leaves it to her cher public to raise that debate.)

Meanwhile, here in New York, the NYCO board is meeting to discuss possible candidates to fill the gap left by the defection of Gerard Mortier. City Opera honchess Susan Baker told Bloomberg News she hopes a new general manager may be hired by the end of the year. Reportedly Michael Kaiser is assisting in the search process.

Baker, speaking at a fundraiser for the NYCO, lamented the “punishing economic environment that has so affected philanthropy.” Bloomberg neglects to mention whether the black-tie crowd pelted her with garbage.

Sadly, La Cieca, who foresaw the beginning, foresaw the end as well.

Now, La Cieca asks you, cher public. Wouldn’t you think that someone as experienced in deconstructing Mozart as Gerard Mortier would find some new take on the role of the coy Zerlina, instead of all this “I would and then I waver, I tremble to depa-art” nonsense. Well, yes, you would, and so would La Cieca, but apparently we’d all be wrong, because, you see (as reported by Opera Chic earlier this evening) the Wiener Zeitung is now speculating that, well, maybe the Ingenuous Intendant is not coming to New York City Opera after all. Though, on the other hand, maybe not, he is. The gossipy piece from the Austrian website only goes so far as to say Mortier “hat anklingen lassen, dass er die Direktion der New York City Opera vielleicht doch nicht übernehmen möchte,” which includes enough conditional tenses to allow for at least a season’s worth of Wackelnraum.

UPDATE: Though, on another hand — and La Cieca realizes we are now up to three hands now, but Mortier is famous for his multitasking, isn’t he?  Well, anyway, doesn’t it seem to you that with all the “will he or won’t he” controversy swirling, Mortier should be taking extra care to restate and reinforce his commitment to NYCO, and not letting things just sort of “anklingen lassen?” This tenuous control over one’s own message is beginning to remind La Cieca of the recent freefall of the McCain Presidential campaign, though she’s not sure who would be Sarah Palin in this analogy. However, it would not surprise your doyenne to see Mortier on Saturday Night Live guying his own elusiveness?

Your doyenne of course will be would have been most interested to hear reports of Mortier’s little talk tomorrow night  at the Morgan Library and Museum, in particular any definite statements of “andiam, andiam mio bene.” But per the Morgan site (as pointed out by several of you cher public) that event has been postponed.  Ah, well. Anyway. If (or as increasingly seems likely) when Mortier officially announces he is ditching NYCO, remember, cher public, you read it first here two months ago.