netrebko_didonatoAs we all already know (those of us addicted to Brad Wilber‘s Met Futures, and who among us is not?) the Metropolitan Opera already has plans to produce two operas of Donizetti’s so-called “Tudor Trilogy.”  Anna Bolena opens the 2011-2012 season featuring Anna Netrebko (left) and Maria Stuarda follows on the following season starring Joyce DiDonato, and isn’t La Cieca clever to find photos of these two artists in garb suggesting these as-yet unsung heroines?

But “clever” will hardly suffice to describe La Cieca’s wily detective work in discovering that the Met will indeed complete the trio of bel canto melodramas with a production of Roberto Devereux! To find out which diva will portray the imperious Queen Elizabeth I (and to see a preliminary photo of her in full regalia) you really must take a look after the jump!  

bonham-carterYes, that’s right, it’s Marina Poplavskaya, and La Cieca is sure she’ll sing the part even better than she looks it!

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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