La Cieca proudly presents the latest Unnatural Act of Opera, a 1974 concert performance of Salome. Salome Narraboth: George Shirley; Jokanaan: Norman Bailey; Salome: Birgit Nilsson; Herodes: Ragnar Ulfung; Herodias: Ruth Hesse; Page: Sandra Walker. Carnegie Hall, New York. December 18, 1974. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti.
By La Cieca
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Let’s talk about chest: theories, recollections, examples, caveats… All about chest, in fact. To start the conversational ball rolling, here’s what some celebrated mid 20th century divas have to say about the subject of chest voice. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/j2hd_2m1qXE” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Chest nut Charlie Handelman has so much to say on “voce di petto”…
By La Cieca
The Acts grow ever more Unnatural as La Cieca introduces the fourth and final segment of Adriana Lecouvreur. Later in the show, we hear Magda Olivero making a debut at an age when most people are ready to retire! Unnatural Acts of Opera
By La Cieca
This is from last night. La Cieca should note that she was not at this performance (1/29/2009), but a member of the cher public armed with an iPhone was. The clip is presented for the purposes of discussion. Tombe La Cieca will begin the discussion by noting that the scene is performed down a half…
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For those who are interested, the following clip will help establish the tonality of Rolando Villazòn‘s final aria last night. Rolando’s key (This clip was sent to La Cieca by a member of the cher public who prefers to remain anonymous. The clip is provided for discussion purposes only.)
By La Cieca
Your doyenne dusts off her singing pipes and then welcomes a guest from the Great White Way into our luxurious new Sunnyside studios, all as introduction to the third act of Adriana Lecouvreur starring Magda Olivero, on this week’s Unnatural Acts of Opera. Adriana Lecouvreur, Act 3
By La Cieca
Vivian Della Chiesa, “Toscanini’s favorite soprano,” died on Tuesday. She was 94. Della Chiesa is heard in the Trio from I Lombardi with Jan Peerce and Nicola Moscona, conducted by Arturo Toscanini, in a radio concert from January 31, 1943. “Qui posa il fianco… Qual volutta trascorrere”
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La Cieca’s dear friend Donald Collup discovers and conflates operatic “oddities” into a popular series of party discs collectively entitled “Shall I Go On?” Here, ahead even of Mr. Collup, La Cieca presents the first notable Oddity of 2009, which was forwarded to your doyenne by a member of the cher public who prefers to…
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La Cieca presents the second act of Adriana Lecouvreur, starring the incomparable Magda Olivero. Unnatural Acts of Opera Quick reminder for the new year: if you’re enjoying the podcasts or whatever else you may find on parterre.com, please consider helping to support the site by clicking on the “Donate” button in the left column.
By La Cieca
Our Own JJ takes to the airwaves this afternoon to yak about the new regime at NYCO. He’ll be on “Soundcheck” on WNYC between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. La Cieca is told that George Steel himself will also be on the program, so she will caution JJ to be sparing in his use of the…
By La Cieca
La Cieca returns, “rested” after her long absence, for an all-new edition of Unnatural Acts of Opera. The theme for 2009 is “The Greatest Pirates,” and, assisted by the many suggestions of the cher public, La Cieca has selected a prime specimen of live dementia for her first offering of 2009. The New Unnatural Acts…
By La Cieca
UPDATE: A quick preview of tonight’s (this afternoon’s, actually) spectacular radio broadcast of I puritani from the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. First, a hint of some of the “new” musical ideas in this edition of Puritani. This is the final cabaletta of the opera, performed (as it was apparently originally intended) as a duet for…
By La Cieca
Maestro Daniele Gatti enters the pit at La Scala for the second act of Don Carlo.
By La Cieca
The very first issue of parterre box (the queer opera zine) was published on December 3, 1993, the 70th anniversary of the of birth Maria Callas. And so that must mean that parterre box is exactly 15 years old today! To kick off what La Cieca devoutly hopes will be festivities, here is an interview…
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For those of you who are perhaps still wondering how (or whether) Medea ends. Medea, Acts 2 and 3
By La Cieca
In case you missed Friday night’s debacle.
By La Cieca
For your compare-and-contrast delight, here’s WNO’s alternative poisoness. You surely all remember the earlier exponent of this role.
By La Cieca
parterre.com editor Our Own JJ plays talking head with Brian Wise John Schaefer this afternoon circa 2:00 pm on WNYC. Topic for the day is the recent bombshell at NYCO. Let’s hope that in the hour or so before the show it doesn’t turn to be a literal bombshell, which at this writing about the only disaster the…
By La Cieca
Nothing could illustrate better the “strange intercourse” between artist and public than the following clip. Chris Merritt‘s 2008 performance of the rarely-heard cabaletta to “Rachel quand du Seigneur” is not much worse than you might expect, but it is the “ovation” at the end that elevates the entire experience to the highest summit of Filth.
By La Cieca
If there is a stranger opera video ever made, La Cieca hasn’t seen it. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DvNhv5yEP0Q” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] And since we’re on the subject of dramatic sopranos, here’s our transplanted Turandot in more familiar vocal territory, circa 1973.
By La Cieca
Here’s a quiz La Cieca trusts will prove thematically appropriate on this particular night: six sopranos sing “Du bist der Lenz.”
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The winner of the Which Witch quiz is Lindoro, who will receive Cult Opera of the 1970s.Â
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