In the day of success
“I have learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.”
By
La Cieca
Just as, back in 1955, dear Vivien Leigh discovered about the Weird Sisters, La Cieca today is ready today to say of her cher public, “I have learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than mortal knowledge.” Or, to put it in less allusive terms, it’s time for you to put your skills to the test in yet another voice identification quiz, this one with a Scottish theme.
Your doyenne’s precious little sister DeCaffarrelli—I call her little in spite of the fact she’s somewhat older than I. Just slightly. Less than a year—well, anyway, DeCaffarrelli has devised yet another potpourri of live performances by divas obscure and, uh, not so obscure. Between the 18 of them, they sing the entrance aria of Lady Macbeth from Verdi’s masterpiece, and it’s up to you to discern who is whom.
Make your guesses in the comments section below, and the first commenter to guess all 18 correctly in the proper order—or, failing that, the commenter with the highest number of correct identifications as of midnight on Friday, August 10—will win a coveted Amazon.com Gift Card
. The other usual parterre rules apply, naturally.
Here’s the clip, cher public, and off you go!
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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Topics: contest, decaffarrelli, quiz
