“So that’s what she calls meeting Mrs. Haines socially”
Just for fun on a Monday morning: supply a caption to the above photograph.
Questo e Quello
Crowning glory
To imagine that I have anything new to say about Maria Callas’ 1957 performance of Anna Bolena at La Scala is sheer pomposity.
Remember me!
Take a boozy short leave of your nymphos on shore, and enjoy your weekly intermission chat, cher public.
The Great American Chat
Our Own Betsy cries, “Grab your spoon and dish: it’s Saturday chat time!”
If you have chunks, prepare to spew them now
For Rufus Wainwright, sitting in a dressing room backstage at Latitude festival, rock ‘n’ roll habits die hard.
Rush to judgment
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.
A boozy short leave
After 23 years, the Queen of Carthage has finally made it to Manhattan.
Blind bargain
Which one of “the world’s leading classical singers” is currently seeking a personal assistant?
L’infelice Aragonese
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.
Gilt trip
“Last Chance! Get an Extra 25% Off Your Next Purchase”
Regie to the Rescue! (A new competition)
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 girls of summer
The Met press department wisely isn’t waiting until the last minute to start announcing cast changes for autumn 2012.
Brit star! would I were steadfast as thou art!
Rule Britannia? Often during the Olympics that famous number from Thomas Arne’s 1740 Alfred echoed in my ears.
Sister sister
Like New Yorkers, opera tends to flee the city in summer.
“Don’t look now, but Madame Calvé is the next box”
Here’s looking forward to an exciting, celebrity-filled intermission as you, the cher public, discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.
Citizen chat
Our Own Betsy yelps, “Stop the presses! We interrupt this program to bring you this special bulletin!”
Desert fox
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.
Fifty Shades of Great
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.
The desert song
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.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss it
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?
You’ve got to taste all the fruit
“F. Paul Driscoll, editor of Opera News [not pictured], is optimistic.”
When you’re good to Fabio
Among conductors on the roster whom Luisi personally invited to be part of his first Zurich season are…
Tales of an evil queen
Beethoven expressed it best when he reportedly threw Rossini shade: “Any other other style than opera buffa would do violence to your nature.”
Who was that Lady?
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.
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).