diva

In fact, she became Peggy Lee.

on January 04, 2008 at 12:28 PM

The diva hazard bonus: a special above-and-beyond payoff to those who have patiently put up with a colleague’s diva antics. La Cieca cannot find any official instance of this bonus in the world of opera, but surely it’s an incredible idea. … Kim Cattrall was such a diva to work with on the Sex and…

on January 02, 2008 at 5:15 PM

La Dessay rehearses the “bathtub scene” from Manon. Sorry, folks, the video is no longer available for embedding at the request of the uploader, Parsifal1979. You can view it, however, on the

on January 01, 2008 at 7:18 PM

Pint-sized Broadway dynamo Kristen Chenoweth will make her fully-staged role debut as Cunegonde in Candide at the English National Opera this summer. The Bernstein/Wilbur, Latouche, Parker, Hellman, Sondheim, Bernstein & Wheeler operetta will be performed in the Robert Carsen production previously seen at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris and La Scala, Milan. Performances begin June…

on December 28, 2007 at 2:55 PM

Ageless Reri Grist sings “Somewhere” in a rehearsal for the 19th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition, celebrated earlier this month. La Grist introduced this song 50 seasons ago when West Side Story premiered on Broadway. She is joined in this clip by Chita Rivera, Carol Lawrence and other members of the original company.

on December 26, 2007 at 11:30 AM

A concert in Vienna, 2006.

on December 23, 2007 at 2:31 PM

“Starring Leona Mitchell (star of the Metropolitan Opera and other major opera houses around the world) and Sarah Rice (the original Johanna in SWEENEY TODD on Broadway), Leona & Sarah, Songs for the Heart & Soul. These two friends join their thrilling voices in an evening of songs, melodie, chanson and an aria or two,…

on December 21, 2007 at 10:49 AM

A reader writes… Dear La Cieca: I found your site through a Google search because I am trying to track down contact information for Felicia Weathers. So imagine my pleasure at the clip of “Up, Up and Away”! In 1969 I had the good fortune to play “Trouble” to Felicia Weathers’ “Cio-Cio San” in a…

on December 20, 2007 at 11:03 AM

Leocadia Begbick (in the person of Patti Lupone, no less) issues small craft warnings for the Gulf coast. (Just a quick clip from the Mahagonny telecast scheduled for tonight at 9 PM on PBS. Check your local listings, obviously.) And, of course it’s old news by now, but la Lupone will be back on Broadway…

on December 17, 2007 at 6:17 PM

Maite Beaumont created a sensation as Sesto in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s recent Giulio Cesare. She’s seen and heard here as Cherubino.

on December 15, 2007 at 2:10 PM

La Cieca would never have thought this would work. And yet…

on December 05, 2007 at 1:28 PM

And don’t call her Shirley! It’s the one and only Ruby Hinds singing the cabaletta to “O mio Fernando” at a tribute to Doris Roberts (yeah, go figure) in Beverly Hills.

on December 04, 2007 at 10:47 PM

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…

on December 04, 2007 at 6:21 PM

After you enjoy tomorrow’s Black Friday shopping spree at amazon.com, settle back for a little operatic comfort food: classic Turkey Tetrazzini. 6 tablespoons butter 1/2 pound mushrooms thinly sliced 1 tablespoon Madeira 4 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 to 3 cups cooked turkey, cut into 3/4-inch…

on November 22, 2007 at 3:08 PM