diva
In the latest episode of Unnatural Act of Opera, deluxe diva Grace Bumbry wails in a lesser-known corner of her vast repertoire, two operas by Richard Strauss. In performances two decades apart, she takes on the title role of Salome (1978) and Klytemnestra in Elektra (1997). La Cieca’s generosity extends even farther, though. As bonus,…
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The promotional trailer from Los Angeles Opera’s production of Mahagonny, starring the one-two punch of Audra MacDonald and Patti LuPone. (And Anthony Griffey makes three!)
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Which diva has been secretly married for over a year to a male model barely half her age? Which diva (not the same one) is in talks to return to the Met in the same fach she “abandoned” over a decade ago? Which diva (neither of the above) seems to be inching her way out…
Margaret Junktrunk Hello there! I’m your announcer Margaret Junktrunk. Welcome to the Sirius Metropolitan Opera broadcast of Ligeti‘s beloved masterpiece Tosca, a work that illustrates the idea, first expressed by Hegel, “A stitch in time saves nine,” or, as the libretto puts it, “Basta!” In today’s performance we will hear tenor Ian Bostridge, baritone Thomas…
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A galaxy of talent sufficient to cast an Arena di Verona production of Sondheim’s Follies assembles in the following recording. It’s the “Ride of the Valkyries” as sung on February 13, 2003 at a gala performance in Tokyo. Wotan’s daughters, in order of appearance: Alessandra Marc (Gerhilde), Eva Marton (Helmwige), Karan Armstrong (Waltraute), Agnes Baltsa…
In honor of the soprano’s return to the Met in Jenufa, a selection of performances from 1959 – 2004.
“It was an affair to rank with the coming of Christ, the death of Garland, the birth of the blues, and the freezing of spinach.” — Arthur Bell, Village Voice. “Miss Steber appears from the steam room in a chiffon gown, loaded with diamonds and a black towel draped around her waist. Mrs. Leonard Bernstein,…
So, does this text for Principessa di Bouillon sound like outtakes from Isolde, or what? O Wollust, voller Pein!Glück und Qual im Bunde!Du still verzehrend Sehnen,Schnell geschlagne Wunde!Heisse Glut, Schauer, Zittern,Und Wahnsinn, SchreckenMuss in des Liebenden Brust Das Warten wecken!Jeder Laut, jeder Schatten,Leis die Nacht durchwebend,Will gegen die zitterndeSeele sich verschwören,Zwischen Zweifel und SehnenBangend und…
Gala Gloria Swanson (sixtyish at the time) trills out a tune from a musical version of Sunset Blvd. that, alas, never made it off the drawing board.
La Cieca and sidekick Milton Host are back with another rarity: Der Barbier von Bagdad by Peter Cornelius. Joining them in the studio with repurposed commentary: a formidable diva of the Johnson era. (No, not Lyndon Johnson. Edward Johnson.) Act 1 is available now at Unnatural Acts of Opera.
Good times and bum times — She saw them all, but my dear,She’s no longer here.The actress everyone is eulogizing as the “definitive Lily Munster” had another, in La Cieca’s opinion far more important credit. In 1971 Yvonne de Carlo created the role of Carlotta Campion in Follies, and introduced the showbiz anthem “I’m Still…
Legendary diva Nazimova in a scene from her 1921 film version of Camille.
La Cieca thought that now that Puritani has opened at the Met, it’s as good a time as any to review the company’s (rumored) bel canto plans for the next five years or so. Remember, everything in this life is uncertain, so please regard these “predictions” as the gossip they are. Anyway, La Cieca hopes…
Everyone’s favorite non-operatic diva Faye Dunaway reacts to the news of her “firing” by Andrew Lloyd Webber. (The show, of course, was Sunset Blvd., and the year was 1994. Miss Faye sued Lloyd Webber and eventually settled out of court for a reported $2 million.)
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