Twice two makes five
On this day in 1849, a Russian court sentenced writer Fyodor Dostoevsky to death for anti-government activities linked to a radical intellectual group.
Questo e Quello
The little black dress
La Cieca invites the cher public (pictured) to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
The girl can’t help it
Join La Cieca and the parterriani this afternoon for a chat during the premiere of Manon Lescaut from the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Thirst for conquest
On this day in 1533 Francisco Pizzaro arrived in Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire.
No! pazzo son! Guardate!
“La nonna rock è impazzita per Jonas Kaufmann definito il più bel tenore del mondo.”
Einspring awakening
“In a last-minute substitution, American tenor Bryan Hymel will sing the role of Rodolfo in this evening’s performance of La Bohème, replacing Ramón Vargas, who is ill.”
Heil and farewell
The Bayreuth Festival has decided to walk away from a new Parsifal production directed by Jonathan Meese for 2016 because the budget has spiraled out of control. Andris Nelsons is still on board to conduct.
The Bishop of Broadway
On this day in 1905, David Belasco’s The Girl of Golden West premiered in New York City.
Not safe for Turk
On this day in 1918, Allied troops occupued Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The seven percent solution
You figured it out a fortnight ago, cher public.
Rolling along
Show Boat continues to communicate, even in the less than perfect circumstances of this latest revival.
Flame war
The role debut of a world-class singer is always a time of great anticipation, hopefully to be followed by celebration, if not unbridled jubilation.
Now she tells us
“Soprano Renee Fleming at 55: ‘I May Leave Well Enough Alone'”
No place like Rome
“There it is! The Castel Sant’ Angelo!”
A daring young man
On this day in 1859, Jules Leotard performed the first flying trapeze circus act in Paris.
Katerina’s insomnia
Throw in a trio of murders and a healthy splash of vodka and you have, more or less, the plot of Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.
First of the last
An early preview of the new Netrebko/Barneboim/Strauss CD
, including Anna’s first performance of the “Vier letzte Lieder.”
In the hands of fate
On this day in 1862 Verdi’s La forza del destino premiered in St. Petersburg.
Angelina’s ashes
Kitsch is alive and well in Rossini’s La Cenerentola at the War Memorial.
A page right out of history
“This is obviously a difficult situation. But who knows Hans New Rock, knows his cool and objective aesthetic decision.”
Nerd for Windows
On this day in 1983 Bill Gates introduced Windows 1.0.
Fox and friends
Cecilia Bartoli, the revered, ebullient, and unique mezzo-soprano, does not like to fly in airplanes. Yet she managed to journey to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Silver lining
Leonie Rysanek made her Met debut as Verdi’s Lady Macbeth on 05 February 1959, and bade farewell to the company as Tchaikovsky’s Countess in Pikovaya dama on 02 January 1996. With this upload of her 25th Anniversary Gala with the company, Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin celebrates La Rysanek’s 88th birthday on 14 November 2014.
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).