Fresh princess Fresh princess

Diva of the moment Sondra Radvanovsky previews yet another great role: Puccini’s Turandot.

on September 29, 2022 at 12:47 PM
Tears in heaven Tears in heaven

Awesome, astounding, Asiatic Anna Netrebko sings Puccini and Puccini/Alfano at the Arena di Verona.

on August 06, 2021 at 8:03 PM
Spin the dial Spin the dial

After the jump, a quiz featuring 15 singers performing Senta’s Ballad.

on April 24, 2017 at 9:56 AM
Donna son io, signore, ed in mia casa Donna son io, signore, ed in mia casa

Though none of the three performances of Anna Netrebko’s Traviata at La Scala was broadcast, an in-house in decent sound has surfaced.

on March 23, 2017 at 1:23 PM
Questa donna conoscete? Questa donna conoscete?

Last week Anna Netrebko sang in concert Violetta’s first act aria from La traviata, an opera she will return to her repertoire at La Scala on Thursday of this week.

on March 06, 2017 at 2:57 PM
Schwahnsinn! Schwahnsinn!

La Cieca has the whole thing for you to listen to, cher public, as recorded Sunday afternoon.

on May 22, 2016 at 10:40 PM
The swan never bothered me anyway The swan never bothered me anyway

Cher public, you knew La Cieca would come through for you, didn’t you? So hurry past the jump and give a listen.

on May 18, 2016 at 12:55 AM
So near and yet so far So near and yet so far

Here’s an extended clip of what the recent concert tour by Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov sounded like.

on April 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM
Moor than expected Moor than expected

La Cieca guesses we will have to make these quizzes more challenging.

on September 23, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Silenzio! Anna verso noi s’avanza Silenzio! Anna verso noi s’avanza

A first hint of what Anna Netrebko‘s latest Verdi role will sound like.

on June 28, 2015 at 6:40 PM
Ha, wie begreifst du schnell und wohl! Ha, wie begreifst du schnell und wohl!

Well done all of you for guessing almost all the correct identities of the mysterious Ortruden.

on June 27, 2015 at 2:25 PM
Ultima voce del mio destino Ultima voce del mio destino

Long rumored, here it is: Anna Netrebko sings “Suicidio!” from La Gioconda!

on April 08, 2015 at 11:39 AM
Monster ball Monster ball

I have banged on and on about doing an “Abscheulicher” quiz for years.

on July 25, 2014 at 12:49 AM
Brotherly love Brotherly love

Again dipping into the rich archive of live recordings remastered and made available by the late Mike Richter, we find this selection from his early disc “Odd Opera 2.”

on November 07, 2013 at 9:00 AM
In memoriam Mike Richter In memoriam Mike Richter

Serious opera fan and internet pioneer Mike Richter died earlier this week.

on October 24, 2013 at 1:10 AM
Normative Normative

La Cieca is sort of out of words trying to describe what makes a great performance of the role of Norma, as opposed to the conscientious traversal of the notes.

on October 15, 2013 at 2:30 PM
Strike a Posa Strike a Posa

It’s just a teensy bit late for Verdi’s birthday, but La Cieca thinks you’ll enjoy the latest vocal ID challenge, cher public.

on October 12, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Pardon the expression, but this is a steal Pardon the expression, but this is a steal

The complete recording of Der Ring des Nibelungen conducted by Christian Thielemann at the Bayreuth Festival is now on sale for only $5.99. And, no, I am not making this up.

on July 04, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Highlight of the gods Highlight of the gods

Our JJ’s recent reminiscences over at WQXR about the whopping cost of a Ring recording back in the Mad Men era seemed all the more startling to La Cieca when she took a gander at a “new” live Ring offered by our friends at Opera Depot.

on June 04, 2013 at 12:34 AM
Dead heat Dead heat

Now the deadline has passed for the Immolation Quiz, La Cieca is happy if a bit puzzled to announce that the result is a tie: two of the cher public were able to identify 23 of the 25 voices in the quiz correctly.

on May 11, 2013 at 12:08 PM
The lady in question The lady in question

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

on May 02, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Fire down below Fire down below

The Immolation Quiz now stands tied between two competitors, each of whom has identified correctly 20 of the 25 singers represented.

on April 25, 2013 at 1:37 AM
Red letter day Red letter day

“Her letter scene was glorious, and her final meeting with Onegin beguiling. Netrebko leaves nothing to be desired vocally and is a consummate artist as well.”

on April 15, 2013 at 8:56 PM
Disc inferno Disc inferno

The music is “Brünnhilde’s Immolation Scene” and it is up to you (and I do mean you) to identify the 25 singers involved.

on April 14, 2013 at 7:11 PM