La Cieca has sneered quite a bit at Anthony Tommasini lately for his slipshod coverage of the Met’s archives and a really repellent obituary of Piero Cappuccilli. But it’s not like Tony is alone in his bumbling. This morning’s Newsday included a wire-service obit of legendary cabaret diseuse The Incomparable Hildegarde, who departed this world last week at the age of 99. But Newsday illustrated the piece with the following file photo:

Now, obviously this is a headshot of Hildegard Behrens, who just as obviously is alive and well. Given that the photo dated 1998, you have to wonder how a copy editor thought it was supposed to represent a 90 year old woman. (Both Hildegarde and Hildegard did a certain amount of maintenance along the way — so La Cieca hears — but, honestly! La Cieca thinks this photo of Behrens — born 1937 — looks damn good for a woman of 60!)

Well, anyweg, the passing of (T. I.) Hildegarde reminds La Cieca of a couple of stories (what doesn’t?), so here goes. Did you know that Hildegarde was the baptismal sponsor when Jacqueline Susann converted to Catholicism? No, really! This happened back in the late 1950s at The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, a couple of blocks south of what was to become Lincoln Center. And after Jackie’s baptism, the two ladies repaired to the Plaza for cocktails; reportedly La Susann raised her Martini and toasted, “Well, here’s to Jesus!”

The other story is a little less elaborate, but oddly ironic in this context. Back during the period of La Behren’s rocky vocalism at the Met around 1990, some of the disgruntled Wagnerians started calling her “The Intolerable Hildegard.” But I’m sure that even the worst of her detractors are happy to know that she is still among the living.

In other news, Hildegard von Bingen is still dead.

Oh, ya know, it just occurred to La Cieca that (T. I.) Hildegarde and Hildegard (B.), besides their vocal accomplishments, have something else in common; but I will leave it to you readers to work that out. Hey, who knows, maybe it’s true about Hildegard (v. B.) too — though you didn’t hear it from me!

Latest on Parterre

Comments