Headshot of La Cieca

Cher Public

  • willym: well I just talked to the spouse – we looked at the programme again and decided this was a not to be... 2:18 PM
  • oedipe: Willym, I don’t know, but I am willing to give Ceci the benefit of the doubt. At any rate, this is a... 2:06 PM
  • Bill: Willym – the critics say 5 hours – apparently Bartoli sang all 8 of Cleopatra’s arias and... 1:55 PM
  • willym: oedipe couldnt find a reply for your post – but yes the theme and the choice is interesting. As much... 1:47 PM
  • armerjacquino: Dutoit. 1:41 PM
  • armerjacquino: Just the WALKURE and the FIDELIO film I think. Not a huge problem because I have the Vienna FIDELIO... 1:40 PM
  • Betsy_Ann_Bobolink: Just out of curiosity, Camille, why are you telling me not to eat bananas? Seems an odd sort... 1:27 PM
  • Ilka Saro: Tu sei giaaaaaaallo. Come un moooooooorto! 1:27 PM

Money pit

munksignal_thumbThe good news is that the Met reduced its operating deficit for 2008-2009 to $1.3 million, down from $12.2 million a year earlier. The bad news is the company’s assets fell by $72.6 million (down to $422.7 million) primarily because of investment losses. In other news, the Met paid James Levine a bit more than Peter Gelb received for the fiscal year, slightly over $1.5 million. (La Cieca will now sit back and listen to the online explanations of how unfair this is, because Jimmy actually makes music whereas Gelb just sits in an office all day thinking about how much he hates opera.) [via Bloomberg]

United we…?

backstageWe’ve all had a rough time in the last few years; but cultural institutions have had it worse than they could have possibly imagined. With a business model that relies entirely on private donations to achieve fiscal viability, the challenge to make ends meet has never been greater.  Read more »

Summoning Nina Munk!

munk_signalThis story involves money, so it’s impossible for La Cieca to understand. Nina, darling, would you hasten to our aid? Read more »

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Who to whom

A charticle to interest Nina Munk and, perhaps, others of the cher public.

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No country for old opera queens

With all due respect to our charming new commenter Nina Munk, the difference between the Met and the Bavarian State Opera is not something that can be measured in dollars or euros.  It’s more about aesthetic sensibility.

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