Who’ll stop the reign Who’ll stop the reign

La Cieca is most unhappy indeed to hear that coloraturafan, the undisputed monarch of opera on YouTube, has had his “fourth or fifth” account on the service deleted.

on July 15, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Claramae Turner 1920-2012 Claramae Turner 1920-2012

The American contralto, who created the title role in Menotti’s The Medium and introduced the song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” died May 18. She was 92.

on June 07, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Ancient German virtue of bravery gone missing Ancient German virtue of bravery gone missing

In a press release, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein at Düsseldorf has announced the cancellation of its controversial new production of Tannhäuser.

on May 08, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Deanna Durbin 1921-2013 Deanna Durbin 1921-2013

The silver-voiced teen star of film musicals of the 1930s and 1940s died earlier this week.

on April 30, 2013 at 10:41 PM
Risë Stevens, 1913-2013 Risë Stevens, 1913-2013

The glamorous and beloved mezzo-soprano died yesterday. She was 99.

on March 21, 2013 at 3:34 PM
A little off the top A little off the top

Michael Capasso, General Director of the Dicapo Opera Theatre has announced that Dicapo will be going on hiatus for a period of six months.

on January 02, 2013 at 5:49 PM
Going, going, gone! Going, going, gone!

“New York City Opera, seeking to shed decades’ worth of old sets, costumes and props, has decided to auction off most of the material next month, the company’s general manager and artistic director, George Steel, said on Wednesday.”

on December 05, 2012 at 11:54 PM
Sunk costs Sunk costs

More bad news.

on November 02, 2012 at 12:26 AM
Things no general director actually says of her own free will for $500, Alex Things no general director actually says of her own free will for $500, Alex

“I am thrilled that operatic superstar Denyce Graves will join the cast of The Mikado, singing the role of Katisha.”

on October 11, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Endgame Endgame

Based on reliable reports about reshuffling of the Met’s repertoire for the 2013-14 season, the only reasonable conclusion is that James Levine will never return to conduct with the company.

on August 09, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Evelyn Lear 1926-2012 Evelyn Lear 1926-2012

American soprano Evelyn Lear died quietly earlier this evening at at Brooke Grove nursing center in Sandy Spring, Maryland. She was 86.

on July 01, 2012 at 9:54 PM

According to  a statement issued this morning, Opera Boston is ceasing operations as of January 1. [Boston.com]

on December 23, 2011 at 11:55 AM

Mercedes and Sid Bass, the A-list society and philanthropy couple who in 2006 gave the Met $25 million dollars—the largest single unrestricted gift paid at one time from an individual in the company’s then 123-year history—announced their divorce yesterday, ending 23 years of marriage.

on October 07, 2011 at 12:48 PM

Avid scoopster Dan Wakin just couldn’t wait until next Tuesday like the rest of us, and so he’s spilled enough details about NYCO’s “next” season to make it bleeding obvious 2011-12 will also be the last. A “new” “production” of La traviata by the undead Dr. Jonathan Miller and the U.S. premiere of the dreck Prima…

on July 06, 2011 at 8:47 PM

NYCO’s director of artistic planning Ed Yim is leaving the company to to serve as a consultant at the New York Philharmonic. [NYT]

on June 02, 2011 at 12:36 PM

UPDATE: A full story of NYCO’s woes, including distressing quotes from George Steel is now online at the New York Times.

on May 20, 2011 at 8:17 PM

Heads are about to roll at New York City Opera, probably including George Steel‘s—though given the troupe’s bizarro history for the past few years, who can say? This is in the wake of a letter leaked to the Wall Street Journal from singers and production staff of the embattled company, which includes this chilling statement:…

on May 19, 2011 at 10:06 AM

Those of you who have been wondering why the announcement of the New York City Opera’s 2011-2012 seems to be almost a month overdue may not take much consolation in the rumor La Cieca has just heard. According to a reliable source, the company will “probably” not offer a fall season (“due to no money,…

on April 04, 2011 at 2:30 PM

UPDATE: It’s official. EARLIER: La Cieca hears from a generally reliable source that James Levine has resigned from his post as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Expect an official announcement later today.

on March 02, 2011 at 3:00 PM

The definitive evidence that the Met was far too wildly optimistic when scheduling Armida.

on March 01, 2011 at 9:44 PM

Congratulations to tenor Stephen Costello, who today was officially awarded the ceremonial title of  Villazóneinspringer at the Vienna State Opera. No, actually, he’s jumping into two performances of La boheme, replacing Rolando Villazón, on September 6 and 9.

on August 27, 2010 at 4:38 PM

“The halls of CAMI are not a happy place right now,” an insider informs La Cieca, and according to information received by parterre.com more than half a dozen long-time Columbia Artists Management personnel have not had their contracts renewed in recent weeks.

on April 10, 2010 at 11:29 AM

Three seasons of cancellations, a schlocky “reality” show, that haircut, and now… Rolando Villazón has gone full “Dr. Patch.” [Yahoo News]

on February 20, 2010 at 3:41 PM

The legendary Russian mezzo-soprano has died after a brief illness. She was 85.

on February 11, 2010 at 8:20 AM