So a member of the cher public writes, “The odious Command Opera says that Netrebko has cancelled the Mariinsky Bolenas” which, according to the Mariinsky site certainly seems to be true. Or at least what seems to be true is that the rumored or planned production of Anna Bolena at the Mariinsky is not happening for whatever reason.  

La Cieca wonders exactly when that would have come together since the soprano is booked for Don Pasquale through November 18 of this year, followed by guest performances of La boheme in mid-December and concerts at the start of the new year.

Does anyone recall if that Anna Bolena was officially announced? The closest La Cieca can find is a post on the Netrebko fan blog from November. The first officially scheduled Bolena for Netrebko is in April 2011 in Vienna, followed of course by the opening night of the Met’s 2011-12 season, but you all knew that.

And about the “odious” part, now honestly, “Miss Netrebko can never ascend to the dramatic vocal heights of Miss Callas vocally as Anna Bolena and accept this reality, however the artist may certainly equal someone such as Miss Scotto…. The Metropolitan audience who applaud even banal performances wildly, cannot be counted on to do so this time. There are effete knives out for Miss Netrebko in certain quarters of the city to make certain she will NOT be favourably compared to Miss Callas.” I mean, honestly.