Verdi Requiem
From the Metropolitan Opera, Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Leah Hawkins, Karen Cargill, Matthew Polenzani, and Dmitry Belosselskiy in Verdi’s Requiem
La Cieca
Dead Man Walking
Yannick Nézet-Seguin conducts Ryan McKinny, Joyce DiDonato, Latonia Moore, and Susan Graham in the season opening night and Metropolitan Opera Premiere of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Dead Man Walking.
Tannhäuser
From the China National Centre for the Performing Arts.
Overload
“Mr. Okulitch and Mr. Hardy have matching black briefs over which they each wear half of a single suit: Giovanni, the jacket; Leporello, the pants. When they switch identities, they trade suit parts, again a vivid metaphor, and made more striking because both singers are so buff.” [NYT]
Where’s Osvaldo?
The Metropolitan Opera commission Daedalus by Osvaldo Golijov seems to have slipped through the cracks, for now at least. According to the virtually always accurate Met Futures by Brad Wilber, the premiere of the work, planned for the 2011-2012 season, is not going to take place.
And then La Cieca clicked “close tab”
“The answer, he decided, was obvious: an opera. In typical Burning Man fashion, as he was standing in line at the port-a-potties, describing this epiphany to…” [CNET]
Amo, amas, amat
La Cieca is delighted to wake up to some wonderful, uplifting news. No, not about the balloon boy; turns out that was a hoax anyway. This “rescue” is for real. Amore Opera, successor to downtown institution Amato Opera, will present its first full production, Puccini’s La Bohème opening on Friday, December 11th at the Connelly […]
Put on my crown
Congratulations to our two winners of the Rosenkavalier essay contest. The lovely rysanekfreak came in first in the “Ja, Ja” division, while Tristram Minstrel was judged the most astute of the many “Nein, Nein” sayers. Our rysanekfreak will be sent the new Decca DVD of the opera starring La Fleming, Sophie Koch, Diana Damrau, Franz […]
Sugar rush
According to a press release from the Met, Fabio Luisi (left) will conduct all performances of Hansel and Gretel this season replacing Andrew Davis (not pictured) who has withdrawn for personal reasons.
Sex, Lies & Octavian
“She was pretty but blank onstage back then, but Tuesday night’s opening performance found her too far the other direction, transforming the ironic, moody aristocrat into a Lifetime movie drama queen.” [NYP]
First time I’ve heard it called that
“Tenor Domingo collects opera gong” [BBC News]
Leap of faith
Maria Gavrilova jumps in as Tosca tonight at the Met, replacing the ailing Karita Mattila.
A bird in the hand
Whenever La Cieca (center) feels afraid, she doesn’t just hold her head erect or whistle a happy tune (though she’s been known to do both on occasion), she reminds herself, “You know, things could be a lot worse than what they are!”
The Rosenkavalier chat
Tonight’s chat during tonight’s season premiere of Der Rosenkavalier from the Met begins at 7:15 pm.
“Ja, ja!”
In the comments section of this post, you are invited to offer your opinion on why Renée Fleming‘s broadcast performance (as heard tonight, October 13) strikes you as a great portrayal of the Marschallin.
“Nein, nein!”
In the comments section of this post, you are invited to offer your opinion on why Renée Fleming‘s broadcast performance (as heard tonight, October 13) strikes you as not a great portrayal of the Marschallin.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
“Unfaithful lovers, sequined jumpsuits and giant silver dildos …. neon wigs and abundant confetti…. Filled with sexual innuendo, laughable levels of innocence and more than a few macho groin thrusts…” [Star Observer]
The clown with his pants falling down
Oh, La Cieca just hates herself when she get a detail wrong. It seems that languid wunderkind Rufus Wainwright will not be performing his hit aria “Les feux d’artifice” at the gala opening of the New York City Opera saluting noted teabagger David H. Koch. The air will be performed by an actual operatic soprano, […]
Happy Birthday Luciano Pavarotti
The legendary singer was born October 12, 1935.
Blind drunk
Which blotto basso had a hell of a time in the first part of that French opera, stumbling, forgetting words, and even losing his voice temporarily? Fortunately, after an intermission featuring hot coffee, a cold shower and a stern tongue-lashing from management, he was reborn as the superb singing actor we all know and love […]
Zero-G Regie
La Cieca congratulates matto per la lirica for identifying our most recent Regie quiz: Offenbach’s L’Ile de Tulipatan — as performed at the Wiener Kammeroper, with Waut Koeken directing. And now for something completely different.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
