Questo e Quello

Dark victory Dark victory

“In a season of high-profile duds like Don Giovanni and the Ring, the Met has found a winner in a dark horse, Mussorgsky’s moody Khovanshchina.”

Hostage situation Hostage situation

“Central to the story is the fictional famed American soprano, Roxanne Coss, who will be portrayed by Australian-born American soprano Danielle de Niese.

Balk like an Egyptian Balk like an Egyptian

Sondra Radvanovsky will make her Met role debut as the title character in Verdi’s Aida on February 28…

The seasons alter The seasons alter

It takes a lot from your commenters to surprise La Cieca, but this time she was frankly bowled over by the depth and breadth of your imagination.

Comment before you leap Comment before you leap

Anything off-topic, anything general, anyone’ birthday—here’s where it belongs, cher public.

Time to say goodbye Time to say goodbye

La Cieca has just heard some interesting and completely plausible gossip about 2013-14.

Castaway Castaway

A live webcast of Ariadne auf Naxos (starring Our Own Renée Fleming) will be transmitted from the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden Saturday afternoon starting at 2:15 PM ET.

Doge gone Doge gone

Opera Orchestra of New York just announced that it has cancelled the March 7 opera-in-concert presentation of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra.

The not too distant future The not too distant future

The Met’s top-secret hush-hush season announcement will emerge from the Holy Grail shrine later today.

L’amour est un oiseau rebelle without a cause L’amour est un oiseau rebelle without a cause

Maestro Wenarto achieves video number 1,500 with this opéra comique take on the immortal “Habanera” from Carmen.

Just what I wanted! Just what I wanted!

La Cieca (pictured, left) celebrated her birthday early this year when she unexpectedly received the perfect gift—the following press release.

People get regie People get regie

Heavens, what with breakdown of the site a couple weeks ago, the Regie quiz has been forgotten for all too long!

We hold these truths to be self-evident We hold these truths to be self-evident

“Rufus Wainwright Talks Opera Prima Donna and Why the Genre’s ‘Not for Sissies'”

Steel yourself Steel yourself

La Cieca thinks it would be fun for the cher public to play George Steel (or, given the difficulty of the task, Superman) and devise an upcoming season for NYCO.

Happy Birthday Maestro Wenarto Happy Birthday Maestro Wenarto

Still going strong after (approximately) 1,500 YouTube appearances, Our Own Maestro Wenarto celebrates the anniversary of his birth today.

Rain on the Rufus Rain on the Rufus

“With Anjelica Huston, Parker Posey and Yoko Ono dotting the crowd at BAM Sunday afternoon, the New York City Opera’s premiere of Prima Donna offered more diva presence offstage than on.”

She wants to be a primadonna She wants to be a primadonna

On Saturday I attended the premiere performance of a new production of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany.  It was Renée Fleming’s debut in the title role…

Ach, schnapp! Ach, schnapp!

“Ich zeige dem Publikum, was sie sehen sollen, und nicht, was sie sehen wollen, schließlich sind Oper und Theater kein Dienstleistungsgewerbe.”

Stargazing Stargazing

It’s Sunday, and that means it’s time for your weekly intermission feature, a chance to discuss off-topic and general interest subjects.

Nothing but nets Nothing but nets

This 2010 DVD of Brecht and Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny from Madrid assumes pride of place among the available video versions of the opera.

Business in the front, party at the back Business in the front, party at the back

The weekly Saturday afternoon chat continues today, cher public.

Avec la participation exceptionnelle de… Avec la participation exceptionnelle de…

Thomas Hampson to Sing at Groundbreaking Ceremony for Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on Feb 22; President Barack Obama Will Deliver Remarks”

Over the moon Over the moon

Mariella Devia will augment her already vast bel canto repertoire next year with the role of roles: Bellini’s Norma.

Decrease your word power Decrease your word power

La Cieca is starting a new series of Words Critics Need to Stop Using.