If you have chunks, prepare to spew them now
For Rufus Wainwright, sitting in a dressing room backstage at Latitude festival, rock ‘n’ roll habits die hard.
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.
Rush to judgment
The Met has managed to scrape up enough money (hitting up donors and dipping into its own coffers) to finance the rush ticket program for 2012-13.
Blind bargain
Which one of “the world’s leading classical singers” is currently seeking a personal assistant?
Gilt trip
“Last Chance! Get an Extra 25% Off Your Next Purchase”
Regie to the Rescue! (A new competition)
La Cieca has always, against all odds, maintained that if there is one expression that best describes the mind of the average member of the cher public, that would be “plus vive que l’oiseau, plus prompte que l’éclair.”
The girls of summer
The Met press department wisely isn’t waiting until the last minute to start announcing cast changes for autumn 2012.
Sister sister
Like New Yorkers, opera tends to flee the city in summer.
“Don’t look now, but Madame Calvé is the next box”
Here’s looking forward to an exciting, celebrity-filled intermission as you, the cher public, discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Citizen chat
Our Own Betsy yelps, “Stop the presses! We interrupt this program to bring you this special bulletin!”
Fifty Shades of Great
Those adorable kids over at EMI Classics have followed up the ridiculous with the sublime: an mp3 download of 50 arias (over four hours of music) sung by Maria Callas for… are you ready? 99 cents.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss it
Which new production was reportedly such a “disaster” during early technical rehearsals that management seriously considered substituting the company’s older staging of the work?
You’ve got to taste all the fruit
“F. Paul Driscoll, editor of Opera News [not pictured], is optimistic.”
When you’re good to Fabio
Among conductors on the roster whom Luisi personally invited to be part of his first Zurich season are…
Who was that Lady?
Much guesswork, most of it terribly astute, went into our most recent vocal ID quiz, and La Cieca is now ready to reveal the most accurate of a very accurate bunch.
To give one pause
An early start for the Sunday chat, cher public.
Where will the elite meet?
With the Met’s single tickets for the 2012-13 season going on sale Sunday morning, it’s surely about time we, the movers and shakers and parterrians, made our customary ukase on which of the company’s attractions are worth seeing this year and which, not so much.
The shock of the new
“The article also referred imprecisely to offerings in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2012-13 season.”
I enjoy being a valkyrie
So, take a look after the jump and tell La Cieca the two things that are wrong (they’re related) about the cover of the Met’s new Ring DVD/Blu-ray.
Endgame
Based on reliable reports about reshuffling of the Met’s repertoire for the 2013-14 season, the only reasonable conclusion is that James Levine will never return to conduct with the company.
Red sauce
La Cieca has put her little grey cells to work and deduced that Opera Orchestra of New York will present two performances next season…
The Wurm turns
The Met’s controversial Ring cycle, directed by Robert Lepage (not pictured) and conducted by TBA (possibly pictured) makes its home video debut on September 11.
Problem solved!
EMI Classics will release Fifty Shades of Grey – The Classical Album…
F. and Furious
Has it been a year already? Apparently so.
Kaufmänner
“Taking the libretto’s description of ‘panther-like’ literally, Bacchus appears in a shiny leopard-print suit…”