True “West”
Our Own JJ finds the Met’s revival of Fanciulla “…a performance more dutiful than golden.” [New York Post]
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.
From A to Zeani
An appearance by legendary diva Virginia Zeani is but one of the highlights of tomorrow night’s Marcello Giordani Foundation Concert and Dinner.
A Prima Donna’s progress
La Cieca is told that Rufus Wainwright announced tonight from the stage of Carnegie Hall (not pictured) that his maiden oeuvre Prima Donna will be performed by the New York City Opera in 2012. (Photo: Clive Barda)
Today in corrections
“A profile of Richard Eyre – ‘All good actors are quick-witted’, 27 November, page 12, Review – mentioned the theatre director’s recollection of having played one of the Three Little Maids in a school production of The Pirates of Penzance. Clarification has since come from the interviewee that in Pirates he played Kate, one of […]
A Real Chat for the Boys
La Cieca invites the ragazzi (and ragazze) to gather at The Whisky Per Tutti Saloon for a chat during tonight’s Met performance of La fanciulla del West this evening beginning at 8:00 pm. Details after the jump.
Nevica!
What better omen for the an opening night of La fanciulla del West than the first snow of the season here in New York City?
Chat, don’t tell
With Betsy Ann pulling a Gheorghiu, the lovely and talented M. Croche leaps once more into the b(r)each, saying, “Once again it’s time for the Saturday Opera-Bash. Hai-ku’ed up this week are…”
Happy Birthday Maria Callas
La Divina was born on (or about) December 3, 1923.
Team (Musical) America
Is Our Own JJ turning Neocon? He certainly has some very positive things to say about the “conservative” Don Carlo in his latest “Rough and Regie” offering! [Musical America] (Photograph: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera.)
She aches just like a woman, but she breaks just like a little girl
“’Voice’ is a feminine noun is Spanish, and therefore, must be treated with love and attention, like a woman. This is where the secret lies.” [PanArmenian.net]
Chest desserts
The Platonic ideal of the barihunk has arrived, and his name is John Chest. The 25-year-old dreamboat is the winner of the 2010 Stella Maris International Vocal Competition, where he sang music by Rossini, Korngold, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Britten. According to a charmingly phrased press release, “Chest was put forward by the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, […]
Solid gold
“Sombre splendor there is frequently not.” Zachary Woolfe mulls Don Carlo. [New York Observer]
Pullquote
“A book about Mr. Lebrecht’s ‘search for Gustav Mahler,’ as he calls his obsession, this is also a book about Mr. Lebrecht, a far less compelling subject.” [NYT]
Peter Hofmann 1944-2010
German heldentenor and crossover performer Peter Hofmann died yesterday. He was 66.
Those whom the goddesses would destroy
Controversial diva Marina Poplavskaya is the subject of a profile in the current New Yorker that does not include any bloodhounds snappin’ at her rear end, but that’s about the only life experience omitted. Highlights include the soprano’s lugging a trolley full of luggage across 14 lanes of Buenos Aires traffic following a dispute with […]
Happy Birthday Gaetano Donizetti
The prolific “Swan of Bergamo” (as he is almost never called) was born November 29, 1797.
Regie on the roof
La Cieca hoped you would have a devil of time with last time’s Regie quiz, but she was wrong. And right, too, of course, since the work in question was Mefistofele. Congratulations to Cara Speme, first to guess, and correct on the first try. More puzzlement after the jump.
Iphigénie en arrière-fond
“This company premiere features an outstanding cast led by soprano Patricia Racette, ‘the consummate singing actress’ (Chicago Tribune).” [Washington National Opera]
Doorbuster chat
You’ve survived the crowds of Black Friday, but can you face the terrors of Decorator Beige Saturday? Huge savings in every department.
Vivremo insiem, e morremo insiem!
The truth, at last: “By Manuela Hoelterhoff and Zinta Lundborg” [Bloomberg]
Nerve center
“Il più amato, il più osannato, il solo e unico varietà operistico radiofonico quotidiano,” or, as we call it, La Barcaccia, examined earlier this week “Donne sull’orlo di una crisi di nervi.” The divas on a verge of a nervous breakdown include Cecilia Bartoli and our own Renée Fleming in a (though not the) legendary […]
Fallen regie
Well, La Cieca thought surely by now someone would have come up with the title of last week’s Regie quiz, but, go figure. Prepare to slap your forehead and yell, “Of course,” because it’s Die Soldaten in a production that’s just opened at De Nederlandse Opera, directed by Willy Decker. Now, this week, La Cieca […]
Mud flung!
Eyes flash! Fans snap! Petticoats rustle omiously! It’s a full-scale diva catfight online as producer David McVicar lashes out at the “sheer, crass ignorance and spitefulness” of bloggress Intermezzo!
Collateral damage
A Netrebko can flutter her wings over a flower at the Vienna Staatsoper and cause an hurricane in Avery Fisher Hall. [Wig & Pen]