The smooth and the rough
Snippet from yesterday’s Carmen telecast.
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.
Pumping irony
Which complex new staging has the Met crew jumping through hoops? The resulting backstage congestion may result in the draft of an estranged director for a comeback!
Vicar’s delight
“It was… immediately clear that neither Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski nor French mezzo Sophie Koch were going to provide wildly enchanting interpretations of the Marschallin and Octavian…. But the most exciting element of the evening was the Sophie of the young British soprano Lucy Crowe, floating through the ecstasy of the Presentation of the Rose […]
International cafe
Cabaret goddess Ute Lemper appears amidst the intime ambiance of Joe’s Pub in NYC later this week to explore “the world of Berlin Kabarett, the backstreets of Montmartre and Pigalle with the French Chansons Realistes and the fantastic, sensual songs of Argentinian Tango in between Buenos Aires and New York.” Whew, let’s hope she has […]
And shirtless he will die
Bare-chested ere the world was young, ur-Barihunk Nathan Gunn continues to work the workout, currently in the Wall Street Journal.
A Life for the Gelb
“The Metropolitan Opera’s Grand Revitalization Act” on the PBS NewsHour.
Left in the dust
A new production of Verdi’s Macbeth? At the Wiener Staatsoper? At a 192 Euro top? And this is what you get?
Motionless on my throne
Thrill to double-barreled diva excitement as that most regal of Kennedy Center honorees Grace Bumbry converses with always awesome Anne Midgette! [Washington Post]
Secret Squirrel
La Cieca is happy to note that Our Own Squirrel will be on-site at Symphony Space this afternoon with live breaking coverage of the triumphs and/or scandales associated with the prima of Carmen from La Scala, as seen on HD. Coverage starts here at parterre.com at 11:45 AM.
Alla stagion dei fior
Rolando Villazón has announced the schedule for his next comeback: L’elisir d’amore in Vienna on March 22, followed by Yevgeny Onegin in Berlin March 26 – April 2. [AFP]
In your face
You’ve heard of “O face” and “Butter face.” Now La Cieca presents for your approval a new operatic term, used to describe the frighteningly contorted and sometimes downright Cheneyesque expressions affected by singers of Vivaldi and other baroque music. It’s called… “Armatae Face.”
Kitchen sink regie
Smartly done, Jim, for last week’s quiz was indeed “Lear, with the little dogs taken literally.” This was the Reimann opera, as performed at the Komische Oper in a production by Hans Neuenfels. Moving on, then. What’s this blonde’s problem?
Lazy afternoon
Neither Maria Guleghina nor Marcello Giordani was in best form for the Met’s HD telecast of Turandot — and, truth be told, the lavish Franco Zeffirelli production is beginning to show its age.
Hund in dem “Wie”
“…the 6-year-old pup is now Renée Fleming’s silent co-star — even he must resist the temptation to howl along with the diva during his 22-minute turn in the spotlight.” [NY Post]
After the Festwochen
Regina Resnik returns to the Met to face Marcellina. A rebroadcast of Le nozze di Figaro from January 11, 1958, right now on Bartok Radio, Hungary.
Oh, I hate it when that happens
“…Mr. Sher may have done too much analysis of the work’s psychological subtexts.” [NYT]
Wanting magic
“As the Met chorus raised their voices at the climax of Les Contes d’Hoffmann Thursday night, the tavern setting opened up, revealing … a gray wall. It was a sadly appropriate visual symbol for a glamour-deprived dud of a new production.” [NY Post]
Les Papotages d’Hoffmann
Here’s the place for all your chatting needs, cher public, during tonight’s broadcast of Les Contes d’Hoffmann from the Met.
Happy Birthday La Divina
Maria Callas was born 86 years ago today in New York City.
Chat impending
Just a reminder, cher public, that parterre.com will be the venue for a chat tonight during the Sirius/RealNetworks broadcast of Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Check back here after 7:30 for details.
Unforgotten
La Cieca hears that the opening performance of Elektra at the Met (December 10) will be dedicated to the memory of Hildegard Behrens, who originated this production in 1992.
Lights! Camera! Automatons!
What’s opening at the Met tonight may turn out to be a mere bagatelle next to a version of Les Contes d’Hoffmann “filmed in 3D and HD video, featuring 1000 extras, 150 musicians and chorus members from the Paris Opera, 50 dancers and 20 of the world’s greatest singers,” according to the blog By George.
Mr. Conductor, if you please!
Which A-list Dirigent is currently unwinding in a private facility, singing duets with himself? Which opera company’s usually jovial antegenerale audience erupted into a lion’s den of booing when the maestro took his bow? (By the way, the tenor bought it too.)
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Cher public, don’t write comments like this one: