Parting shot
Somewhere around the early 80’s, stage directors realized that the odious theatre practice of “audience involvement” was over.
Questo e Quello
Tiny tunes
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s best known opera is La Serva Padrona, but the Neapolitan composer also composed several other works, which are now lovingly presented on video by the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini at Jesi.
And now a word…
La Cieca is delighted to introduce to you, the cher public, our sponsors for the month of February.
Under a linden tree
A new CD
features the ten most gorgeous minutes recorded by a tenor in Wagner since World War II.
Veni, vidi, Vinci!
Not only cursed to bear a name nearly identical to that of one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived, Leonardo Vinci also had the misfortune to die just three months after the premiere of his greatest opera, reportedly murdered with a cup of poisoned chocolate at the age of 36.
Swiss you were here
The Pierre Audi production of Guillaume Tell has opened at De Nederlandse Opera.
No dice
The Met took a gamble on a new production of Rigoletto Monday night—but, dramatically at least, the show crapped out.
Jiggoletto
The stage production of Rigoletto contains very brief partial nudity, which will not be shown in the Live in HD transmission of the opera.”
Point and shoot
Meet parterre’s new tutelary spirit, tenor August Schram, star of Metube.
The wrong box
Take a breather, cher public, and join in the general interest and off-topic conversation in this week’s intermission feature.
Snow business
This week on Operavore: “Strong Women of Opera.”
Steam heat?
Tenor Vittorio Grigolo, easy on the eyes despite the fright wig, is one of the “Hottest Opera Stars Of 2013.”
Everybody cut loose
You know, information wants to be free and all that.
Grand undrape
Which opera company that apparently still exists has sent out a casting call for no fewer than 40 supernumeraries to appear naked in an work whose title, ironically, includes a part of the body that is generally not concealed anyway?
You didn’t notice the wallpaper?
In the interest of absolute accuracy (for surely the cher public deserves no less!) La Cieca offers the following correction.
Sous le ciel tout étoilé
FINAL RSVP REQUEST: La Boheme from The Royal Opera – This Sunday, Jan. 27.
The revolution will be televised
Ah, finally a light begins to break.
She got through all of last year and she’s here
The apparently immortal Anja Silja (all those performances of Vec Makropulos must have rubbed off!) is seen here in her newest role, Babulenka in Prokofiev’s Igrok at Oper Frankfurt.
When I have sung my songs to you
… I’ll just keep on singing until everyone hears it.
Pretty perfect
In a winter rich with splashy debuts, Friday’s performance of Le Comte Ory introduced a 27-year-old South African charmer who may well be the Met’s next big star.
One Day more
There’s that old joke; What’s the difference between opera and sex? Punchline; you can have good sex.
Moi, je m’appelle Raisinette
Another Sunday, another invitation to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Sorry, right number
Today marks the premiere of the Operavore radio show on WQXR.
New flame
Elena Manistina will make her Met debut as Azucena in the Saturday, January 19 evening performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, replacing Stephanie Blythe, who is [obviously] ill.
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).