Questo e Quello
Robert W. Wilson, the American hedge fund manager and former chairman of New York City Opera, has died, an apparent suicide.
“Samuel Goldfish’s big glass house on the Hudson is liable to need fireproof curtains—and they better be drawn down tight—for there Mary Garden, who says she has never been in a photoplay house in all her life, will start acting in the title role of Thais for the Goldwyn Picture corporation.”
Here’s a seasonal treat from Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leizmetzerin, Martinu’s Hry o Marii (The Miracles of Mary).
“Gelb is said to track sunspot activity for advance warning of possible satellite transmission disruptions.”
La Cieca (right) invites those of you who have a thirst for conversation to enjoy this week’s off-topic and general discussion forum.
“Now, my trip to Munich has been cancelled and I am hoping to be able resell the tickets at face value.”
“Music lovers are in for a treat this Saturday…”
“Verdi revered Shakespeare and would turn over in his grave.”
Our Own JJ (not pictured) counts down his 10 favorite New York opera performances of 2013 in the New York Observer.
Weltstardiva Anna Netrebko plays a basement in Greenwich Village next month.
This week, our peek into the Mike Richter collection reveals a long listen for those lengthy midwinter nights: Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Vintage issue #33
Mary Garden goes back to Paris to-morrow.
Each year, Leon Botstein leads the American Symphony Orchestra in a concert opera or two.
Our Own Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin has concocted something to keep you warm on those long winter nights: a complete performance of Les Troyens from 1974!
“La parole humaine est comme un chaudron fêlé où nous battons des mélodies à faire danser les ours, quand on voudrait attendrir les étoiles.”
A snowy day in MYC offers a perfect excuse to stay home, cozy and warm, and enjoy the hospitality of La Casa della Cieca during this afternoon’s broadcast of Falstaff starting at 1:00 PM.
Daniela Sindram will sing the role of Octavian and Rúni Brattaberg will sing the role of Baron Ochs in this evening’s performance of Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier.
“Is Parsifal, then, a religious artwork, or is it a work ‘about’ religion?”
In honor of Giacomo Meyerbeer, the unjustly or (depending on how you look at it) justly neglected 19th century opera composer, a selection from Mike Richter‘s “Meyerbeer Operas” CD-ROM.
How, then, to explain the perplexing performance last Friday night of Falstaff, Mr. Levine’s first new production since his return?
Also unimpressed was Franco Zeffirelli…
In Vintage Issue #32: How that opening night of Lohengrin might have gone; La Cieca on La Gran Scena…
“I am Fabio Luisi – a professional musician and conductor in international concert halls and opera houses, involved in many aspects of music and art. For many years I have also had a secret passion for another art which I have studied and practiced to bring to you today: perfumery.” [FL Parfums]
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
