La Cieca has just been informed that Boston Lyric Opera “is mere hours away” from announcing their new Director of Artistic Operations, Nicholas Russell (formerly of Glimmerglass Opera before the regime coup there). It should be noted that although Russell is “dall’ immondo sangue degl’inglesi dei scozie,” he is a naturalized U.S. citizen, so it’s debatable whether he should be called a “fucking Brit.” (La Cieca leaves it to her cher public to raise that debate.)

Meanwhile, here in New York, the NYCO board is meeting to discuss possible candidates to fill the gap left by the defection of Gerard Mortier. City Opera honchess Susan Baker told Bloomberg News she hopes a new general manager may be hired by the end of the year. Reportedly Michael Kaiser is assisting in the search process.

Baker, speaking at a fundraiser for the NYCO, lamented the “punishing economic environment that has so affected philanthropy.” Bloomberg neglects to mention whether the black-tie crowd pelted her with garbage.