Photo: Ken Howard / Metropolitan OperaA source close to (though not necessarily at) the Metropolitan Opera tells La Cieca that the company’s production staff “late last week” pitched the idea of reviving the Franco Zeffirelli production of Tosca in the fall of 2010 in order to free up some backstage space for the “QEII-sized” sets for the new Rheingold. Peter’s Gelb‘s answer?  A resounding “no!”  So, La Cieca predicts, you can count on Luc Bondy‘s vision of the Puccini shocker to return the boards as scheduled.

Apparently the necessary elbow room will be obtained by cutting down on some of the clutter of Zack Brown‘s Rigoletto sets, substituting elements from a lighter version of the production created for a 2001 tour of Japan.

A representative of the Met’s press department says, “At this point we have not confirmed next season’s rep.”

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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