Some interesting turns of phrase in the Met press office’s announcement that Valery Gergiev will not (shockeroo!) show up tomorrow to conduct a single performance of Boris Godunov:

Pavel Smelkov will conduct tomorrow’s matinee performance of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, replacing Valery Gergiev. Maestro Gergiev’s manager issued the follow statement: “Valery Gergiev is unable to travel to New York to conduct Boris Godunov at the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday, March 12 due to exhaustion. He has been resting in St. Petersburg and will remain at home to recuperate. He has been advised by his doctors not to fly.”

Note: we don’t say it, Gergiev’s manager says it. We don’t have to believe it, we just have to repeat it.

La Cieca thinks this is a cheesy way to end what has been a pretty spectacular Met career, but not, perhaps, totally out of character.

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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