Questo e Quello

Man in chair Man in chair

The question on everyone’s lips at Carnegie Hall was, “Is Jimmy back in form?”

And the 2013 Pubies go to… And the 2013 Pubies go to…

One startling upset catches the eye among the many winners (if that is the word) of the 2013 Parterre Box Awards.

Lady for a décolleté Lady for a décolleté

La Cieca invites the cher public to open up and discuss any off-topic or general interests they might want to get off their chest.

Zurück vom “Ring!” Zurück vom “Ring!”

Peter Gelb says the Ring will definitely not return, as originally planned, in 2017, and where has La Cieca heard that before?

Encore! Encore! Encore! Encore!

For tomorrow afternoon’s chat at La Casa della Cieca, your doyenne offers an unusual double blast from the past.

Meeting Mrs. Haines socially Meeting Mrs. Haines socially

The Wiener Staatsoper should be a source of some interesting backstage gossip next September as the company presents on alternating nights Angela Gheorghiu as Tosca and Aleksandra Kurzak as Violetta.

Racing with the moon Racing with the moon

For better or worse, Decca’s new Norma recording will ultimately be embraced—or dismissed—by those reacting directly to Cecilia Bartoli’s controversial portrayal.

Heir presumptive? Heir presumptive?

>Andris Nelsons has been named the new music director of the Boston Symphony.

Before her all Rome trembled Before her all Rome trembled

A sneak preview of Cecilia Bartoli’s new recording of Norma may be found on the website of The Guardian.

Talking headspace Talking headspace

Our Own JJ (pictured) joins in the debate over the Düsseldorf Tannhäuser with Anne Midgette and John Berry.

And one for civic duty! And one for civic duty!

It’s time to vote on the The 2013 Pubie Awards, cher public.

Dead heat Dead heat

Now the deadline has passed for the Immolation Quiz, La Cieca is happy if a bit puzzled to announce that the result is a tie: two of the cher public were able to identify 23 of the 25 voices in the quiz correctly.

The standoff in Düsseldorf The standoff in Düsseldorf

“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”

… and now the worse news … and now the worse news

A couple of tweets from Thomas Hampson detailing some grisly-sounding future projects.

Yet here’s a chat Yet here’s a chat

For your viewing and discussing pleasure tomorrow afternoon, cher public, La Cieca recommends a live webcast of Verdi’s Macbeth from the Bayerische Staatsoper.

Ancient German virtue of bravery gone missing Ancient German virtue of bravery gone missing

In a press release, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein at Düsseldorf has announced the cancellation of its controversial new production of Tannhäuser.

Final immolation update Final immolation update

The score in the Immolation Quiz now stands tied at 23 all, with both leading entries identifying wrongly the same two segments of the quiz.

Cover to cover Cover to cover

La Cieca (pictured) is thrilled to announce the debut of a new online book club hosted by Norman Lebrecht of “Slipped Disc” fame.

Miss Firecracker Miss Firecracker

Just like the pyrotechnics the heroine of The Firework Maker’s Daughter longs to create, this new opera for children is a delightful, low-tech throwback to a time before CGI took over the world.

Plank your lucky stars Plank your lucky stars

The next scheduled appearance of the Met’s Ring production has been canceled, as irrevocably as these things can ever be.

Headless nuns in starless cast Headless nuns in starless cast

The most sensuous sounds at the Met this week come from an opera with nary a love duet.

Any porte-cochère in a storm Any porte-cochère in a storm

Our Own JJ did a double header yesterday (you’ll read about in the Post starting Monday) and so La Cieca hardly has the energy left to say, “Discuss, discuss!”

The lady in question The lady in question

… is Anna Netrebko, performing “Vieni, t’affretta” from Verdi’s Macbeth at tonight’s opening gala at the Mariinsky.

Double-barrelled Double-barrelled

Elizabeth Bishop will make her Met role debut as Fricka in Saturday evening’s performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold, replacing Stephanie Blythe, who is ill.