The Prince of Alice Tully Hall
Either you adore “The World Is but a Broken Toy” from Act II of Princess Ida and have always wanted to hear it sung by voices of operatic quality… or you don’t… and you haven’t.
Questo e Quello
Chat without tears
Your doyenne invites you to drop by La Casa della Cieca.
Notte e giorno faticar
At last, the quintessential targeted reader of parterre.com has been identified.
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
Leave it to a cat to transform a Wagner festival into the Jellicle Ball.
C’est la guerre, mais ce n’est pas magnifique
If war is hell, then Soldier Songs should rank somewhere around “purgatory.”
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
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
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
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
Move over, Sam Ramey, there’s a new Timur in town.
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!
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!”
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
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!
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
La Cieca is delighted to announce that she has joined the cast of WQXR’s radio edition of “Operavore.”
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
I’ve always had a certain affection for Roberto Alagna.
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
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.
I am missing the winter now
One quick way to warm up: Watching tenor heartthrob Roberto Alagna.
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.
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).