Four of the cher public caught yesterday’s HD presentation of Tosca and have agreed to share their impressions with La Cieca and the rest: “The death of Puccini’s Tosca was much exaggerated, in fact it did not take place.” “After about 34 years of going to the opera, I don’t think I’ve ever left a […]
This is the best production of Siegfried ever!
Your doyenne modestly would like to introduce the lastest of her far-flung business empire, a mini-store at amazon.com called La Cieca’s Little Shop of Arias. She suggests you bookmark this site as a convenient one-stop location for all the latest opera CDs, DVDs and other regalia. As with the various other amazon advertising here on […]
The New York Times rolls out the red carpet for the Met’s revival of Der Rosenkavalier in a majorly major way today: chitchat with Renée Fleming, what Boris Goldovsky used to call “a musical and dramatic analysis,” plus, in what surely must be a first in media access, exclusive streaming content culled from yesterday’s dress […]
Actually, only a single riddle, cher public, but perhaps a baffling one.
“Why on earth was an American singer (admittedly a good one, James Creswell) imported to undertake the minimal challenge of Timur? ENO must try harder to cast British.” [Telegraph]
La Cieca sat in on the “Cognitive Theater” discussion tonight at the New York Public Library, and the main impression she came away with is that Patrice Chéreau is a very quiet, soft-spoken man who happens to be a genius. (She was expecting something more fiery, but like many of the great divas, it seems […]
According to Opera Chic, the Alagnas will announce their plans to divorce tomorrow. (That is, they will make an announcement tomorrow; the actual proceedings are likely a little farther down the road.) You may remember that La Cieca hinted at this sad eventuality several months ago. [UPDATE: As noted in the comments below, Alagna is […]
… and, by the way, an interesting contrast between a “great” conductor of today and a routinier from four decades ago. Carlo Guelfi (with Gatti) 2009 Giangiacomo Guelfi (with Rescigno) 1969
La Cieca is looking for members of the cher public who are planning to see either the HD of Tosca on Saturday or the Rosenkavalier prima on Tuesday, and who are willing to write a reaction/critique. Write to her at [email protected]. [UPDATE: Lots of volunteers for the HD, thanks! La Cieca still wants to hear […]
La Cieca has a review coming (slowly) of the new Decca DVD of Der Rosenkavalier, but while we’re waiting, here are some clips from the telecast upon which this release is based. Feel free to discuss while La Cieca continues to scribble.
According to a press release from the Met, “Sondra Radvanovsky and Julianna Di Giacomo will sing the role of Lina in Verdi’s Stiffelio, replacing Angela Marambio who has withdrawn. Sondra Radvanovsky sings the performances on January 11, 14, and 30 matinee, and Julianna Di Giacomo those on January 19, 23 and 26. Both will be […]
La Cieca thinks that Marcelo Àlvarez should be reminded that he is a tenor, and nobody is really interested in a tenor’s views on theology. And even if he doesn’t know better than to badmouth an ongoing production at a theater that presumably is (or anyway was) contemplating offering him future contracts — he is […]
The subject of the controversy: that most insidious and invasive attack on American culture since fluoridation or women’s suffrage, operatic stage direction. The conspirators: the ilk of Peter Gelb, Patrice Chéreau, Luc Bondy and Bartlett Sher, “instigated” by Paul Holdengräber. The meeting place: that hotbed of radical thought the New York Public Library (Fifth Avenue at […]
No, the following passage not from any goddamn Warner Brothers epic and it’s not from any thirties musical starring little Miss Alice Faye. But what’s it from? Wer lässt hier Aufruhrstimmen, Kriegsruf ertönen, wollt Ihr die Götter zwingen, Eurem Wahnwitz zu fröhnen? Wer wagt vermessen, gleich der Prophetin der Zukunft Nacht zu lichten, wollt Ihr […]
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How exactly is a reporter for Bloomberg News supposed to take sides in a controversy between Peter Gelb and Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees? Philip Boroff must feel like Mime, waiting for Fafner to kill Siegfried, Siegfried to kill Fafner, or, ideally, a bit of both. (And how on point […]
The New York City Opera, “in response to demand for tickets to its long-awaited revival production of Hugo Weisgall’s Esther,” New York City Opera has added an additional performance of the Lauren Flanigan twelve-toner on Tuesday, November 17 at 8:00pm. Tickets are available at the David H. Koch Theater Box Office in a Box…
La Cieca has managed to obtain this exclusive snippet from the camera rehearsal for Saturday afternoon’s Met HD telecast. Note the “Hitchcock” influence in the cinematography. (Extra points for the first member of the cher public to detect La Cieca’s cameo appearance!)
JJ reviews the Met’s current revivals of Aïda and Il barbiere di Siviglia in the New York Post. Meanwhile, the Times leads with the boos.
First things first: congratulations to lorenzo.venezia who recognized Rigoletto in that crinoline. And now: who are all these people, and why are they having such a good time?
La Cieca welcomes suggestions for a caption to this photograph. (Catherine Ashmore, Royal Opera)
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).
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!
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