Questo e Quello

Chiedi all’aura lusinghiera Chiedi all’aura lusinghiera

La Rondine, which began as a light Viennese operetta before being transformed into an Italian tearjerker, is not a natural diva vehicle…

Zukunftsmiausik Zukunftsmiausik

Leave it to a cat to transform a Wagner festival into the Jellicle Ball.

C’est la guerre, mais ce n’est pas magnifique C’est la guerre, mais ce n’est pas magnifique

If war is hell, then Soldier Songs should rank somewhere around “purgatory.”

Blind haste Blind haste

Which recent debut has the Met’s administrators intoxicating themselves with dreams of a return engagement for the budding star in the second cast of one of next season’s new productions?

Found object Found object

Well, you can slash La Cieca’s veins, drink her blood and trample her corpse, because she did not see this one coming!

Winged victory Winged victory

A wayward bouquet conked Kristine Opolais on her noggin during the ovation Friday night in La Rondine—but that was the only mishap in the Latvian soprano’s spectacular Met debut.

The chat with nine lives The chat with nine lives

Thanks for your feedback, cher public. La Cieca has implemented the new chat software with your suggestions at La Casa della Cieca.

A night at the museum A night at the museum

Move over, Sam Ramey, there’s a new Timur in town.

Sicura, presta è la mia difesa Sicura, presta è la mia difesa

Out of concern for the cher public over possible security issues with Java, La Cieca suggests that you hold your Saturday chat here in the comments section of this posting.

Ed io quest’Angela osava maledir! Ed io quest’Angela osava maledir!

Angela Meade will sing the role of Leonora in tomorrow afternoon’s performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, replacing Patricia Racette, who is ill.

“He is more than a prince, he’s an ace!” “He is more than a prince, he’s an ace!”

Doubled and redoubled congratulations to Met press director Peter Clark, who tied for the Greater New York Bridge Association Flight B Player of the Year award.

Blind item Blind item

Anna Netrebko sings “Tvajo malchan’je nepan’atna” from Iolanta earlier this evening at the Liceu, Barcelona.

New York has neon, Berlin has bars, but ah! Caramoor! New York has neon, Berlin has bars, but ah! Caramoor!

This summer at Caramoor, Will Crutchfield (not pictured) will conduct two Verdi operas written for the Académie Royale de Musique.

The next voice you hear The next voice you hear

La Cieca is delighted to announce that she has joined the cast of WQXR’s radio edition of “Operavore.”

Queens of song Queens of song

Our own JJ ponders the Met’s new production of Maria Stuarda (not pictured) for Musical America.

Come un bel dì di gennaio Come un bel dì di gennaio

I’ve always had a certain affection for Roberto Alagna.

Hot ticket Hot ticket

La Cieca invites the cher public (all of you!) to engage in the weekly ritual of discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.

Isle, cry tomorrow Isle, cry tomorrow

I completely missed The Enchanted Island during the Met’s 2011-12 season, both in the house and in the HD presentation.  Even on Sirius, I had only heard snippets of the performance.

Hurling Hurling

It shouldn’t take you but a moment to find the great huge clunking error of fact in this Vanity Fair profile of Joyce DiDonato.

I am missing the winter now I am missing the winter now

One quick way to warm up: Watching tenor heartthrob Roberto Alagna.

Vil cutlet Vil cutlet

True, Joyce DiDonato’s Mary spat out those fighting words in a tangy chest voice, but it was hard to believe she meant them.

A little off the top A little off the top

Michael Capasso, General Director of the Dicapo Opera Theatre has announced that Dicapo will be going on hiatus for a period of six months.

Bicentenarian Bicentenarian

La Cieca it would be both fun and appropriate to get an early start celebrating one of this year’s two major 200th birthdays, that of Richard Wagner, and what better way to kick up our heels than with a parterre competition?

Fire and Ice Fire and Ice

“Don’t listen to a Romanian man who says he prefers a ‘natural’ woman,” says Gheorghiu.