"We’re puttin’ on an op’ra tonight!"
Mae West goes mezzo-soprano for this scene from her 1935 vehicle Goin’ to Town.
La Cieca
Barenboim sings again!
Introducting a new guest critic, Giulia Grisi, who blogs regularly for “Il Corriere della Grisi.” La Scala’s 2007-8 opera season opened last night (December 7) with a new production of Tristan und Isolde. The Milanese theatre hadn’t presented Wagner’s masterpiece since 1978, when Carlos Kleiber‘s masterful interpretation became an instant classic, in spite of a […]
E Fedra sia!
La Cieca enthuses about her recent visit to the Lyric Opera of Chicago before introducing the third act of Adriana Lecouvreur starring Renata Scotto. Your doyenne’s favorite diva returns after the act for a rare live recording of an excerpt from one of her most celebrated roles. All this, plus Milton Host‘s wonted bemusement, on […]
Send in the clowns
That “Cate Blanchett” Traviata we were talking about earlier? Turns out there’s video of the dress rehearsal.
We have a winner!
The people have spoken, and they have chosen Winpal as the author of the wittiest Season Brochure. Congratulations to Winpal and all you cher public who participated!
Demi-filth?
Fiorenza Cedolins gets off to a bad start in this performance of Luisa Miller. La Cieca feels that if you’re going to sing like that, you really should avoid the Grayson Hall wig.
Dark year for NYCO?
UPDATE: La Cieca has just heard that the “dark season” is not a done deal just yet. The NYCO board meets next week to make that decision. (Given how late in the game this is, most likely the “decision” will be no more than a formality. But La Cieca will keep her ear to the […]
Regie, steady, go!
Which opera is this? And for bonus Cieca Bucks, which scene?
Who can that attractive girl be?
La Cieca would never have thought this would work. And yet…
Basta diva
La Cieca is sure she doesn’t wish ill on anyone, but Maria Guleghina‘s return to Norma tonight is turning filthy already.
Runners-up and their lilting melodies
Excellent lines from some of the many, many “Season Brochures” that didn’t make the final five. Soprano Montserrat Caballe stars as Jeanette, a virginal pony who for most of the opera is disguised as a mysterious duck. Montserrat Caballe is perhaps best known from TV’s Sex & The City where she sang the lilting melody […]
Brochuremania 2007: Vote for your favorite Season Brochure
Now is the time to restore La Cieca’s faith in the democratic process, cher public! The polls will remain open until midnight on Thursday, December 6. Remember, the winner receives a gift certificate from amazon.com. Which is your favorite Season Brochure? The 1924 Season for Parma Grand Opera by Julian The 1954 Season for Selma […]
"The Season Brochure" – you be the judge (part 5)
La Cieca was franky overwhelmed by both the volume and the quality of the “Season Brochure” contest entries, so she’s decided to ask you, her cher public, to help decide the winner. In this and four other posts, she will present five finalists. Later today, she will post a ballot so you, the cher public, […]
"The Season Brochure" – you be the judge (part 4)
La Cieca was franky overwhelmed by both the volume and the quality of the “Season Brochure” contest entries, so she’s decided to ask you, her cher public, to help decide the winner. In this and four other posts, she will present five finalists. Later today, she will post a ballot so you, the cher public, […]
"The Season Brochure" – you be the judge (part 3)
La Cieca was franky overwhelmed by both the volume and the quality of the “Season Brochure” contest entries, so she’s decided to ask you, her cher public, to help decide the winner. In this and four other posts, she will present five finalists. Later today, she will post a ballot so you, the cher public, […]
"The Season Brochure" – you be the judge (part 2)
La Cieca was franky overwhelmed by both the volume and the quality of the “Season Brochure” contest entries, so she’s decided to ask you, her cher public, to help decide the winner. In this and four other posts, she will present five finalists. Later today, she will post a ballot so you, the cher public, […]
"The Season Brochure" – you be the judge (part 1)
La Cieca was franky overwhelmed by both the volume and the quality of the “Season Brochure” contest entries, so she’s decided to ask you, her cher public, to help decide the winner. In this and four succeeding posts, she will present five finalists. Later today, she will post a ballot so you, the cher public, […]
Where Nobody Knows Your Name
In order to stem what seems to be a rising tide of anonymous postings (and to save herself the hassle of deleting them) La Cieca offers these instructions on how to post comments using a Nickname. When you click on the “POST A COMMENT” link, you go to the “Leave your comment” form. At the […]
Another alternative Moment
Joan Sutherland circa 1959, as Lucia, of course.
Fish story
A helpful reader has pointed La Cieca to an interview in the current Opera News, a publication she picks up all too infrequently, alas. But the chitchat between Brian Kellow and Francesca Zambello is just too delicious to ignore. Ms. Zambello is the director of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, a show that just last week […]
Lady in the dark
Not the clearest sound, but, oh my dear, could those girls ever sing back then!
Mostly mediocre moments
In the words of Stella Maria Krazelberg von und zu Brabant, “Renata was robbed!” La Cieca offers a quick reminder of some moments that should have made the Met’s “Top 15” list.
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!
