Questo e Quello
Just for fun on a Monday morning: supply a caption to the above photograph.
To imagine that I have anything new to say about Maria Callas’ 1957 performance of Anna Bolena at La Scala is sheer pomposity.
Take a boozy short leave of your nymphos on shore, and enjoy your weekly intermission chat, cher public.
Our Own Betsy cries, “Grab your spoon and dish: it’s Saturday chat time!”
For Rufus Wainwright, sitting in a dressing room backstage at Latitude festival, rock ‘n’ roll habits die hard.
The Met has managed to scrape up enough money (hitting up donors and dipping into its own coffers) to finance the rush ticket program for 2012-13.
After 23 years, the Queen of Carthage has finally made it to Manhattan.
Which one of “the world’s leading classical singers” is currently seeking a personal assistant?
Camille Saint-Saëns was such a brilliant, facile musician that pals like Wagner and Liszt felt a distinct schadenfreude when he suffered composer’s block.
“Last Chance! Get an Extra 25% Off Your Next Purchase”
La Cieca has always, against all odds, maintained that if there is one expression that best describes the mind of the average member of the cher public, that would be “plus vive que l’oiseau, plus prompte que l’éclair.”
The Met press department wisely isn’t waiting until the last minute to start announcing cast changes for autumn 2012.
Rule Britannia? Often during the Olympics that famous number from Thomas Arne’s 1740 Alfred echoed in my ears.
Like New Yorkers, opera tends to flee the city in summer.
Here’s looking forward to an exciting, celebrity-filled intermission as you, the cher public, discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Our Own Betsy yelps, “Stop the presses! We interrupt this program to bring you this special bulletin!”
Karol Szymanowski’s 1926 King Roger was the sleeper hit of SFO’s season, not so much for its weird, mystical theme and feeble libretto but because the music is powerfully effective.
Those adorable kids over at EMI Classics have followed up the ridiculous with the sublime: an mp3 download of 50 arias (over four hours of music) sung by Maria Callas for… are you ready? 99 cents.
You Parterrestrials know all about Santa Fe Opera’s amazing mountain setting and open-sided theater affording breathtaking sunsets, weather-related drama and–when the back stage wall is opened–starry backdrops, but it was my first visit, so indulge me a little.
Which new production was reportedly such a “disaster” during early technical rehearsals that management seriously considered substituting the company’s older staging of the work?
“F. Paul Driscoll, editor of Opera News [not pictured], is optimistic.”
Among conductors on the roster whom Luisi personally invited to be part of his first Zurich season are…
Beethoven expressed it best when he reportedly threw Rossini shade: “Any other other style than opera buffa would do violence to your nature.”
Much guesswork, most of it terribly astute, went into our most recent vocal ID quiz, and La Cieca is now ready to reveal the most accurate of a very accurate bunch.
Tell us: Filth or dementia?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
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