Headshot of La Cieca

Cher Public

  • m. croche: ACDouglas is no more reliable a guide to Taruskin than he is...
  • Ilka Saro: There was a production of Das Rheingold done where the Gold ...
  • Feldmarschallin: there is no DVD geplaned because they didn't have the fundin...
  • m. croche: "To me this whole ‘updating and modernizing’ enterprise ...
  • David: The play was excellent, but Luise lost out without the music...
  • MontyNostry: Ach, Ljuba. She voz a law unto herself. Ze proverbial flame ...
  • m. croche: Oh, snap!
  • Feldmarschallin: I don't know why Pape pulled out and I find it is difficult ...
  • Quanto Painy Fakor: At this stage of Pape's career he doesn't need to work with ...
  • mia apulia: Thank you Arianna; I am truly dotty with the late hour and a...

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La Dappertutta

Providing continuing proof that at any given time there are only about a dozen opera administrators in the entire universe, the currently restructuring Washingon National Opera has selected as its artistic advisor the otherwise criminally underemployed Francesca Zambello. Read more »

Iphigénie en arrière-fond

iphigenie“This company premiere features an outstanding cast led by soprano Patricia Racette, ‘the consummate singing actress’ (Chicago Tribune).” [Washington National Opera]

Gallows humor

i_had_a_ballLa Cieca hears that Susan Neves has joined the cast of Washington National Opera’s Un ballo in maschera to sing Amelia in two performances, and Tamara Wilson will sing two additional performances. The American sopranos take over dates held by Irène Theorin.

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E pluribus unum

It looks like the Washington National Opera is going to be absorbed by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. [Wall Street Journal]

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i stand warned

From an email promo for Washington National Opera’s current production of Elektra: See Susan Bullock and Christine Goerke Sing Elektra! Washington National Opera stars Susan Bullock and Christine Goerke are featured in these extended excerpts and interviews from a recent production of Strauss’ Elektra in Florence, Italy, directed by Robert Carsen and conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Note: The interviews and subtitles are in Italian, and Clip Two contains nudity. But, on the other hand, La Cieca thinks perhaps (just perhaps) nudity might be preferable to some of the costuming for this production, which our informant describes as “a particularly overwrought [...]

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